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yesterday

North Korea Completes Wonsan Kalma Coastal Resort Ahead of Domestic Launch

Touted by Kim Jong Un as a prime tool for economic diversification, the facility drew Russian diplomats whose presence points to potential future tourism ties.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae stand on the beach during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, North Korea, June 24, 2025. KCNA via REUTERS
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae walk inside a hotel during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, in North Korea, June 24, 2025. KCNA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae watch a person sliding down a slide during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, North Korea, June 24, 2025. KCNA via REUTERS
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Overview

  • State media reported the Wonsan Kalma coastal zone was finished in June after construction resumed last year following delays from sanctions and the pandemic.
  • The resort spans a four-kilometer beach and includes hotels, hostels and sports, recreation and dining facilities for nearly 20,000 guests.
  • KCNA confirmed domestic visits will begin on July 1 without specifying when foreign tourists will be admitted.
  • At a June 24 ceremony, Kim Jong Un hailed the project as one of the year’s greatest successes and said more large-scale tourism zones will be planned at the upcoming Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party.
  • Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora and embassy staff attended the completion ceremony, signaling Pyongyang’s intent to court Russian visitors as part of its sanctions-compliant foreign currency strategy.