North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma Beach Resort: A Coastal Gamble Amid Missiles and Ambition

In a surprising move for a nation known more for its secretive regime and military posturing than for leisure, North Korea unveiled the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone on June 24, 2025, a sprawling beach resort along its eastern coast.

Personally championed by leader Kim Jong Un, this ambitious project aims to transform a 4-kilometer stretch of white sandy beach—once a missile testing site—into a “world-class” tourism destination. With hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, a water park, and a capacity for 20,000 visitors, the resort is a bold attempt to boost the country’s sanctions-stricken economy. But its proximity to military facilities, restricted access, and controversial construction raise questions about its viability and appeal.

A Resort Born from Ambition and Delay

The Wonsan-Kalma resort, often dubbed “North Korea’s Waikiki” by South Korean media, began construction in 2018 but faced multiple delays due to international sanctions, material shortages, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally slated for completion in 2019 to coincide with the birthday of national founder Kim Il Sung, the project stretched over six years, finally opening to domestic tourists on July 1, 2025. Kim Jong Un, who spent much of his youth in Wonsan among the elite’s private villas, has positioned the resort as a symbol of national pride and economic revival. State media hailed it as a “national treasure-level tourism city,” showcasing modern amenities like wave pools, water slides, and European-style hotels.

The cost of the resort remains shrouded in secrecy, as North Korea tightly controls information. Observers estimate the investment was substantial, likely straining the country’s limited budget, which is heavily allocated to military spending and regime propaganda. The resort’s infrastructure—43 hotels, guest houses, a cinema, and recreational facilities—suggests a significant financial commitment, especially for a nation under stringent UN sanctions that ban major exports like coal and textiles. Kim’s strategy hinges on tourism as one of the few unsanctioned avenues for foreign currency, with hopes of attracting visitors to offset economic losses.

Who Does It Appeal To?

The resort’s appeal is a mixed bag. For now, it primarily serves North Korea’s domestic elite—those loyal to the regime with enough wealth or influence to access such luxuries in a country where widespread poverty persists. State media reported North Koreans “flocking” to the resort, enjoying swimming, water sports, and dining on seafood and grilled meats. However, the resort’s capacity for 20,000 visitors far exceeds the domestic market’s demand, indicating Kim’s broader ambition to attract foreign tourists, particularly from Russia and China.

Russian tourists have been the first foreign visitors, with a small group arriving in July 2025. A week-long trip, including three days at Wonsan-Kalma, costs around $1,800—60% more than the average Russian monthly salary. Visitors like Anastasia Samsonova, a Russian tourist, described “immaculate” beaches and plentiful food, though under strict surveillance by guards and guides. The resort’s novelty, coupled with its “unique” setting near a missile testing site, is marketed as an exotic draw for adventure-seeking travelers. Toy rockets are even sold as souvenirs for $40.

China, which accounted for 90% of North Korea’s 300,000 foreign tourists in 2019, is the bigger prize. However, Chinese tours have not resumed, possibly due to unresolved diplomatic tensions. Experts suggest North Korea will eventually open the resort to Chinese visitors to recoup its investment, given the proximity to northern China’s 160 million residents. Western tourists, briefly allowed in February 2025 from countries like the UK and Australia, were abruptly banned weeks later, and experts doubt Wonsan-Kalma will rival Pyongyang or the DMZ as a draw for them. The resort’s niche appeal lies in its “unconventional” context, intriguing those fascinated by North Korea’s isolation.

Tourists Allowed—But With Strings Attached

Access to Wonsan-Kalma is heavily restricted. Currently, only Russians, traveling in tightly controlled groups via accredited agencies, are permitted. Direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang are planned, and Russia’s Primorsky region has promoted eight-day tours combining Wonsan with Pyongyang’s attractions. Foreigners face strict rules: no photographing construction sites, no revealing clothing, and constant monitoring by guides and staff. Despite these constraints, some visitors, like Russian veterinarian Daria Zubkova, enjoyed the resort’s pristine facilities and foreign beers, though they noted an eerie, controlled atmosphere.

North Korea’s broader tourism ban, imposed in 2020 to prevent COVID-19 spread, has not been fully lifted. A sudden ban on foreign tourists to Wonsan-Kalma in July 2025, just weeks after its opening, underscores the regime’s paranoia about outside influence. Analysts warn that tourism risks weakening Kim’s totalitarian control by allowing information to flow in and out, a concern heightened by recent laws cracking down on foreign cultural influences.

Proximity to a Missile Site

The resort’s location near a missile testing site in Wonsan adds a surreal layer to its allure. The city has long been a hub for North Korea’s military activities, with missile launches reported as recently as May 2025. Kim’s vision to transform this strategic area into a tourist haven reflects his dual priorities: showcasing prosperity while maintaining military might. Satellite imagery confirms the resort’s rapid construction, but its proximity to active military facilities raises safety and geopolitical concerns. For some tourists, this juxtaposition is part of the “unique” appeal, though it may deter others wary of the regime’s volatility.

Challenges and Controversies

The resort’s construction has drawn criticism from human rights groups for alleged worker exploitation. Defectors report harsh conditions, with workers enduring long hours, inadequate food, and no compensation for injuries or deaths. Local residents were reportedly displaced without compensation to make way for the project. These concerns highlight the stark contrast between the resort’s glossy facade and North Korea’s systemic hardships, where resources are funneled into propaganda-driven projects while many citizens face hunger.

Skeptics question the resort’s long-term viability. Poor infrastructure, limited transportation (accessible mainly via Pyongyang or a converted military airfield), and geopolitical tensions make it a risky destination. Experts like Dr. Edward Howell of Oxford University argue that Wonsan-Kalma is “hardly a tourist hotspot,” with its appeal limited by North Korea’s isolation and strict controls. Even Chinese tourists, a key target, may prefer established destinations like Hainan or Bali.

A Coastal Wonder or a Propaganda Ploy?

Wonsan-Kalma is a paradox: a lavish resort in one of the world’s most repressive states, built next to a missile site to lure foreign currency while tightly controlling access. For Kim Jong Un, it’s a personal and political project, symbolizing a “new era” of prosperity. Yet its success hinges on navigating diplomatic tensions, human rights scrutiny, and the challenge of attracting tourists to a surveillance-heavy destination. While Russian visitors and domestic elites may enjoy its pristine beaches, the resort’s broader appeal remains uncertain, a glittering gamble in North Korea’s tightly controlled landscape.