In a bold move underscoring its renewed focus on tourism-led economic development, North Korea has opened a new luxury beach resort on its eastern coast, aimed exclusively at domestic travelers. Despite the fanfare surrounding the unveiling—personally praised by leader Kim Jong Un as one of the nation’s top achievements in 2025—the foreign tourist ban remains firmly in place, signaling Pyongyang’s continued cautious approach to international engagement.
The new resort, widely believed to be located in the Wonsan-Kalma coastal area of Kangwon Province, is part of a long-term tourism strategy that seeks to harness the country’s scenic coastal and mountain regions for economic diversification. With modern hotels, entertainment complexes, and pristine beach access, the resort is designed to appeal to North Korea’s elite and middle class who are permitted limited domestic travel.
A Controlled Expansion of North Korean Tourism
The resort’s development reflects North Korea’s larger effort to modernize and monetize its tourism industry, albeit under tight state control. While international travelers remain excluded, the domestic opening of the resort allows the government to test large-scale tourism operations while minimizing external influences.
The decision not to allow foreign tourists comes amid continued political isolation and public health concerns, particularly in the aftermath of prolonged border closures since early 2020. The Ministry of Tourism has not provided a timeline for lifting the restrictions, but experts suggest the regime will proceed cautiously—balancing tourism revenue opportunities with ideological containment.
According to the North Korea Economy Watch, tourism makes up less than 1% of the country’s GDP but has been identified as a “non-sanctioned” revenue stream. However, the lack of transparency, poor infrastructure outside Pyongyang, and restricted movement for foreigners present major barriers to international tourism scaling up.
Russia Emerges as a Key Travel Partner
While most of the world is still barred from visiting North Korea, Russia is quietly becoming a tourism partner. In September 2025, a direct air route between Moscow and Pyongyang was inaugurated, operated by a Russian regional carrier. The route enables Russian tourists to visit North Korea under government-approved travel programs.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to the newly opened beach resort earlier this year further cemented this relationship. Lavrov pledged to boost Russian tourism to North Korea, viewing it as a niche destination for travelers seeking “untouched” and historical experiences.
These developments follow a broader strategic alignment between the two nations, with Russia seeking new geopolitical and economic partners amid ongoing tensions with the West. North Korea, in turn, welcomes Russian capital and tourists, particularly as it seeks to buffer itself from dependence on Chinese tourism.
What the Resort Represents for North Korea’s Future
The beach resort stands as a model for potential future tourism developments in North Korea, blending the country’s natural beauty with carefully curated state-led experiences. The government envisions Wonsan-Kalma as part of a broader coastal tourism belt, possibly including Mount Kumgang and the Masikryong Ski Resort.
Still, the state’s guiding principle remains self-reliance (Juche ideology), meaning tourism growth will continue in tightly controlled phases. According to state-run media Rodong Sinmun, the beach resort reflects “our strength and wisdom” and is “a gift to the people,” emphasizing internal prestige over international accessibility.
While North Korea’s tourism infrastructure is improving, including investments in new rail links and roadways near the resort area, the lack of open internet, freedom of movement, and multilingual hospitality services make broader foreign participation unlikely in the short term.
Implications for the Global Travel Industry
For international tour operators and agencies, North Korea remains a highly niche and politically sensitive destination. However, for Russian travel businesses, the new direct flights and state support present an opportunity to offer exclusive, culturally immersive packages tailored to travelers drawn to off-the-beaten-path experiences.
In the long run, North Korea may follow a model similar to Bhutan, where tourism is allowed under strict state guidelines, high daily fees, and mandatory local guides. Such a system could preserve ideological control while generating limited but valuable foreign exchange.
However, the country’s poor human rights record and geopolitical volatility continue to deter major tourism investment and limit diplomatic travel agreements. As a result, industry experts suggest that while Russia may enjoy preferential access, any opening to broader foreign markets will be slow and conditional.
Toward a Sustainable Tourism Strategy?
There is some indication that North Korea may be considering sustainable tourism models, particularly in coastal and mountain regions less impacted by industrial activity. If implemented correctly, such an approach could help position the country as a unique eco-tourism destination in the long term.
To do so, the government will need to align its tourism policies with international sustainability standards, ensuring local communities benefit, and environmental degradation is avoided. Infrastructure upgrades, cultural site preservation, and climate resilience will be critical.
For now, the new beach resort remains a symbolic milestone—proof that tourism is on the leadership’s radar as an economic tool. However, true transformation will require transparency, openness, and gradual normalization of international relations.
Conclusion: A Window into North Korea’s Travel Future
North Korea’s launch of a new domestic beach resort, paired with selective foreign engagement—primarily with Russia—suggests a slow and strategic expansion of the tourism sector. While the foreign tourist ban remains a defining feature, developments like Wonsan-Kalma reveal a cautious interest in tapping into global travel markets under the regime’s strict terms.
For the global tourism industry, North Korea presents a paradox: rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty, yet locked behind ideological and political walls. If reforms continue and borders gradually reopen, the country could emerge as one of Asia’s most enigmatic tourism destinations.
Until then, Pyongyang’s beach resort remains a sun-drenched, state-run spectacle—seen only by the few North Koreans lucky enough to visit and the Russians invited to peek behind the curtain.
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