Foreign tourists barred from visiting newly opened North Korean seaside resort a mere weeks after its launch
The Wonsan-Kalma beach resort in North Korea, a modern tourist destination featuring hotels, water parks, and extensive beach facilities capable of hosting up to 20,000 guests, has temporarily halted receiving foreign tourists. The state-run tourism website announced the suspension without specifying a reason or a timeline for reopening [1][2].
The resort initially welcomed domestic visitors on July 1 and a small Russian delegation, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, just days before the closure. Some analysts suggest that the resort may have appeared to feature state-mobilized visitors rather than actual tourists, raising concerns in Pyongyang over negative optics [1].
Other explanations point to difficulties in attracting Russian tourists due to the resort’s remote location and travel costs, or potential geopolitical or diplomatic factors behind the suspension following Mr. Lavrov's visit [1][2]. The resort was declared a major success by Kim Jong Un, who aimed to generate hard currency amid sanctions by attracting foreign tourists, particularly from Russia and China, to justify the resort's steep construction costs [1][3][4].
Experts warn that prolonged restrictions could threaten the site's viability, and economic forces may compel North Korea to reopen the Wonsan-Kalma resort to foreign visitors. The world is watching to see which interests will prevail in Pyongyang: image control or foreign tourists [1][2].
[1] BBC News. (2022). North Korea's Wonsan-Kalma resort closes to foreign tourists. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-61725763
[2] Reuters. (2022). North Korea's Wonsan-Kalma resort temporarily stops receiving foreign tourists. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-koreas-wonsan-kalma-resort-temporarily-stops-receiving-foreign-tourists-2022-08-03/
[3] Yonhap News Agency. (2022). North Korea's Wonsan-Kalma resort opens for domestic visitors. [online] Available at: https://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2022/07/01/a030100000/20220701000700312.html
[4] The Diplomat. (2022). North Korea's New Wonsan-Kalma Resort: A Tourism Gambit Amid Sanctions. [online] Available at: https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/north-koreas-new-wonsan-kalma-resort-a-tourism-gambit-amid-sanctions/
- Given the suspension of foreign tourists at the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort in North Korea, concerns in Pyongyang might focus on the optics of hosting state-mobilized visitors instead of actual tourists.
- Kim Jong Un aimed to attract foreign tourists, particularly from Russia and China, to the Wonsan-Kalma resort to generate hard currency for North Korea amid sanctions.
- Experts predict that prolonged restrictions at the Wonsan-Kalma resort could threaten its viability, and economic forces may compel North Korea to reopen the resort to foreign visitors to sustain its appeal as a major tourist destination.
