North Korea Unveils New Seaside Resort Amidst Tourism Hopes

North Korea's latest resort project seeks to attract overseas visitors, but current travel restrictions hinder Kim Jong-un's ambitions for foreign currency influx.

North Korea has launched its ambitious Wonsan Kalma beachfront resort this week, generating considerable state-sponsored excitement, yet conspicuously devoid of foreign tourists, a key target for leader Kim Jong-un. The resort, which began accommodating visitors on July 1, showcases a 2.5-mile stretch of sandy beach, attracting numerous local families eager for recreation, as highlighted by the Korean Central News Agency's enthusiastic report on the festivities.

Official sources boast that the resort can accommodate up to 20,000 tourists, marking it as the most notable project in Kim's broader strategy to lure foreign travelers and bolster the economy, especially in light of stringent international sanctions imposed on the nation. These sanctions severely limit North Korea’s exports, particularly coal and textiles, yet tourism remains unaffected and promises a potential revenue stream that Kim is keen to exploit.

The development of the Wonsan Kalma resort is particularly symbolic, transitioning the beach from a military drill site into a vibrant leisure destination, now lined with water attractions and hotels, earning comparisons to the renowned 'Waikiki' in Hawaii by South Korean media. Despite hopes for international tourism, the absence of foreign guests, largely due to China’s current travel restrictions for its citizens, has cast a shadow over the locale's grand opening.

In a ceremony in late June celebrating the resort's completion, Kim, alongside his family, expressed optimism for future tourism, despite the current realities that challenge this vision. The resort's potential as a generator of foreign currency and a new angle to engage with the outside world is a noteworthy pivot for a nation traditionally focused on military prominence over commercial appeal.