Beaches instead of missiles: DPRK opens Wonsan Kalma resort, but without foreigners
26 June 2025 16:45
North Korea has officially completed the construction of a large-scale beach resort, Wonsan Kalma, on the country’s east coast. It is scheduled to open on July 1, and for now it will be available only to domestic tourists. This was reported by the Singaporean TV channel CNA, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The construction of the complex, which has been underway since 2018, has become part of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un’s broader strategy to develop tourism as one of the few legal sources of income for the country. Although the resort was supposed to be completed several years ago, the actual deadline was pushed back by almost six years.
Interestingly, Wonsan Kalma used to be a military training ground, in particular for testing missiles, and now it is home to private villas for the North Korean elite, hotels, restaurants, a water park and shopping areas. According to official information, the resort will be able to accommodate up to 20,000 guests on a 4-kilometer stretch of coastline.
Despite the plans to attract foreign tourists, the country has not yet found an international investor for the project, due to the harsh sanctions imposed on the DPRK over its nuclear program.
In 2020, North Korea completely closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was only in 2023 that the country partially reopened, with limited entry allowed for tourists from Russia. At the same time, most regions, including the capital Pyongyang, remain closed to free tourism.
