North Korea Unveils Stunning Coastal Getaway
Let’s face it, strange tourism projects have a certain appeal. Enter North Korea, pulling back the curtain on a once-abandoned seaside town, now reborn as a tourist resort. The burning question here – who’s actually going to make this journey, considering the country is about as welcoming to international visitors as a hedgehog at a balloon factory?
Welcome to North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma Resort Town
Mark your calendars for July 1, 2025 – that’s when the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort officially opens its doors. Picture this: a sprawling 605-acre development kissed by a 3.5-mile beachline. Hotels galore and enough leisure facilities to keep even the most restless tourists entertained.
Located just about 100 miles from Pyongyang, it’s a mere two-hour drive away, and if you’re feeling fancy, there’s an airport nearby equipped with a 10,000+ foot runway. Yes, a shared-use airport, meaning you might see more camo suits than cargo shorts, but hey, it adds to the charm.
Years of dust and dreams have finally culminated in this resort’s re-emergence. Construction kicked off back in 2018, with aspirations to open just a year later. Yeah, right! But then again, when the North Korean military is running the show, deadlines take on a whole new meaning – for obvious reasons.
Fast forward past the pandemic-induced pause, and with a whole lot of Kim Jong Un’s enthusiasm thrown in, construction got back on track in 2023. Now, it’s all systems go, and they’re rolling out the red carpet for a whopping 20,000 guests at any given time. Kim’s dreams of impeccable service, amusement parks, and shopping malls suggest a vision of “world-class” – though that might be a stretch.
Wonsan’s got a soft spot in Kim’s heart – probably because he grew up there. It’s a favored haunt of the North Korean elite, some of whom already have their exclusive retreats. Ultimately, the goal seems to be making Wonsan shine for a wider audience.
So, Who’s Packing for North Korea?
The most isolated nation out there, North Korea, has a quirky approach to tourism. Pre-pandemic, they welcomed a trickle of tourists, strictly on guided tours where you’d see only what Big Brother wanted you to see.
The pandemic put the brakes on that, but tourism is eking its way back. Russian and Chinese tourists were, naturally, the first to step back over the threshold. February 2025 saw a brief fling with Western tourists until a halt was abruptly called.
This leaves us with an unresolved puzzle: who exactly is this mega-resort meant for, especially with its myriad hotel rooms? The average North Korean doesn’t exactly have coins to spare or the freedom to travel willy-nilly. Perhaps it’s a nod to the domestic upper crust? Or, just maybe, Kim’s eyeing potential visits from “friendly” neighbors like Russia and China, who had a sneak peek last year.
- Will tourists need a permanent chaperone, or can they wander at will? Odds are, a tourist zone is where the adventure, and the sightseeing, begins and ends.
- Is North Korea gearing up to welcome leisure tourists just there for sun and surf?
North Korea is notorious for grand projects that turn into ghost towns, like the towering yet hollow Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang – meant to be a jewel of hospitality, now reduced to a skyline blemish. Given North Korea’s obsession with appearances, it’s surprising they didn’t muster the might to finish it. Could the Wonsan-Kalma development defy the odds?
What’s Next?
With a grand opening just around the corner, Wonsan-Kalma is North Korea’s latest attempt to lure domestic tourists, and someday, a sprinkle of international ones. The crucial question: will it keep its doors open, and will it ever see a lively crowd? Delving into the speculation, one wonders about the plausibility of 20,000 hotel rooms and whether Korea can verify its claims. Additionally, is it a place for genuine relaxation, or a sideshow of mysterious allure?
Could this seaside venture carve a reputation as an aspirational destination to rival, say, the picturesque Val Seny ski resort? Or maybe it’s just another chapter in North Korea’s storied history of ambitious, if not outlandish, endeavors.
How do you predict the tale of this North Korean coastal retreat will unfold?