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North Korea Opens Wonsan-Kalma Resort to Domestic Tourists, Prepares for Russian Visit

Domestic trials at the Wonsan-Kalma complex began July 1 ahead of a planned Russian tour group visit limited to 170 arrivals per day on July 7.

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This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on July 2, 2025, shows the North opening the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on July 2, 2025, shows the North opening the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

Overview

  • The resort drew domestic visitors from Pyongyang and remote provinces when it opened its trial service July 1.
  • Facilities include hotels and hostels for nearly 20,000 guests, sandy beaches, parasailing, cinemas and a branch of the renowned Okryu-gwan restaurant.
  • A Russian tour group is set to arrive on July 7, with daily foreign visitor numbers capped at roughly 170 via flights from Vladivostok.
  • The state-led development began in 2014, stalled in early 2020 due to material shortages and health restrictions, and was finalized during a June 24 ceremony overseen by Kim Jong Un.
  • Pyongyang markets Wonsan-Kalma as a key source of foreign currency under sanctions, though limited air links may hinder sustained international tourism.