North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced plans to open a major tourism site on the country’s eastern coast by next year. The Wonsan-Kalma zone, one of Kim’s flagship tourism projects, has been under development with luxury hotels and recreational facilities designed to attract international visitors. Despite delays caused by shortages of construction materials due to stringent UN sanctions and COVID-19 restrictions, construction is reportedly nearing completion.
Kim’s visit to the Wonsan-Kalma zone included discussions on final preparations for its opening by May 2025, as per a ruling party meeting in January. State media has described the site as a coastal wonderland that North Korea hopes will become a top global tourist destination.
However, North Korea continues to restrict visits by foreign tourists, with the exception of a small number of Russians who visited earlier this year due to improved relations between the two countries. The return of Chinese tourists, who represented about 90% of international visitors before the pandemic, would be a significant boost to the country’s tourism revenue. In 2019, North Korea welcomed a record 300,000 foreign tourists, generating between USD 90 million and USD 150 million in revenue.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation recently reported that its Director-General, Qu Dongyu, visited North Korea from July 13 to 16, marking the first trip by a UN principal since 2019. The visit aimed to strengthen partnerships and address food security and nutrition challenges in the country. It remains uncertain when North Korea will reopen its borders to international staff of UN agencies, following stringent pandemic-related restrictions that included the departure of diplomats and foreign nationals.
