North Korea's Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone has temporarily barred foreign visitors just weeks after its launch, raising questions about the regime's tourism strategy and past human rights concerns.**
North Korea Bans Foreign Tourists from Newly Opened Coastal Resort**
North Korea Bans Foreign Tourists from Newly Opened Coastal Resort**
The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, aimed to boost tourism, halts foreign visits despite recent openings.**
North Korea has recently issued a ban on foreign tourists from visiting the newly established Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone. Officially opened on July 1, this seaside resort was designed as a cornerstone of Kim Jong Un's efforts to revitalize tourism in the impoverished nation. Prior to its inauguration, the resort was marketed to both locals and international travelers as a premier attraction.
A statement on North Korea's tourism website clarified that foreigners would be "temporarily" prohibited from accessing the resort. This news follows the arrival of Russian tourists shortly after a diplomatic meeting in Wonsan between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kim, where Lavrov praised the resort's potential for tourism growth among Russians.
In an effort to increase connectivity, North Korea plans to establish direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang within the month, expanding the potential for Russian visits to the region. Russian tour operators had previously announced intentions of arranging several trips to the resort over the upcoming months.
The Wonsan region, situated on North Korea's eastern coastline, is not only historically significant for Kim, who spent substantial time in its elite holiday villas, but also hosts key missile development facilities and a sizable maritime complex. The coastal resort is equipped to accommodate about 20,000 visitors, featuring an extensive array of hotels, restaurants, shopping venues, and a water park along its 4km beachfront.
However, the construction of this massive project back in 2018 has been shadowed by allegations of human rights violations, with reports suggesting that workers endured excessive hours and poor working conditions for minimal pay to ensure the resort's completion.
In a notable shift last year, North Korea initially reopened its borders to Russian tourists following a lengthy hiatus during the pandemic. Earlier this year, it briefly permitted tourists from various Western nations, including Australia, France, Germany, and the UK, but abruptly curtailed these visits without explanation a few weeks later.
