North Korea Shuts Out Foreign Tourists from New Seaside Resort

North Korea's newly launched seaside resort, the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, has barred foreign tourists just weeks after its opening, disrupting initial expectations for international visitors.

North Korea has enacted a surprising ban on foreign tourists from its recently opened Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, built as part of Kim Jong Un's strategy to enhance the country's tourism industry. Announced on its tourism website, the ban comes shortly after the site formally opened on July 1. Initially promoted for both local and international travelers, the seaside destination had attracted visitors, including a group of Russian tourists who arrived recently, coinciding with a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kim in Wonsan.

Lavrov praised the resort's potential to become a favored spot for Russian tourists, with plans for direct flights from Moscow to Pyongyang anticipated to launch soon. The Wonsan area, known for its long history and significant missile facilities, has undergone extensive development, featuring hotels, shopping centers, restaurants, and a 4 km beachfront water park designed to accommodate around 20,000 guests.

However, the construction of the resort since 2018 has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which cited concerns over the treatment of workers involved in the project, who allegedly faced long hours and inadequate compensation under harsh working conditions. The completion ceremony for the resort saw attendance from Russian ambassadors, further highlighting international interest in North Korean tourism.

While the resort initially welcomed a limited number of international tourists, including those from Western countries last year, tourism in the nation has seen abrupt policy shifts, notably pausing foreign travel without explanation after just weeks. Prior to the pandemic, North Korea had forbidden most foreign tourism, and as it tentatively reopens, the future attractiveness of its seaside venture remains uncertain given this recent foreign visitor restriction.