North Korea will next week open its new Wonsan‑Kalma tourist zone on the nation’s east coast, a project it calls the “proud first step” toward a tourism‑driven economic revival.
The Wonsan‑Kalma zone features hotels and accommodations for nearly 20,000 people, seaside swimming, sports facilities and dining halls for domestic visitors. Korean Central News Agency reported that leader Kim Jong Un toured the site and cut the ribbon at an inaugural ceremony. He declared the project “one of the greatest successes this year” and emphasized it marks “the proud first step” in government tourism policy.
State media confirmed the opening for North Korean citizens next Tuesday, but offered no timeline on when foreigners can visit. The government has welcomed Russian tourists since February 2024, yet Chinese group tours — which once made up over 90 percent of visitors — remain suspended. A small international tour group entered earlier this year, but agencies halted plans by March.
Kim has increasingly looked to tourism as a key driver to revive North Korea’s struggling economy. The state has announced plans for more tourism zones across the country. Still, strict border closures have persisted since the pandemic, and no assurances exist regarding full reopening to foreign tourists.
