North Korea has unexpectedly barred foreign tourists from entering its newly opened holiday resort, just weeks after promoting the seaside retreat as a ‘world-class tourist and cultural destination.’
The abrupt reversal comes only days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the site on July 12, where he was hosted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who described Lavrov as the resort’s ‘first foreign guest.’
North Korea’s official tourism website, DRP Korea Tour, announced on Wednesday that foreign visitors are ‘temporarily not accepted,’ at the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, without providing a reason for the restriction.
The resort, located on the country’s east coast near an airport in Kangwon Region, officially opened its doors on June 24 following years of delays caused by international sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Initially slated to open in April 2019 to coincide with the birthday of North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung, the resort was envisioned as a major boost to the nation’s struggling tourism industry.
North Korean state media has described the development as a ‘national treasure-level city’ and one of the regime’s greatest accomplishments of the year.
Stretching along 2.5miles of white-sand coastline, the complex is reportedly capable of accommodating up to 20,000 visitors and features over 40 hotels, guesthouses, and leisure facilities modeled after those found in international beach destinations.
When the resort was first opened, Kim was photographed standing on a sandy beach alongside his daughter and presumed heir Kim Ju Ae.
North Korea has unexpectedly barred foreign tourists from entering its newly opened holiday resort, just weeks after promoting the seaside retreat as a ‘world-class tourist and cultural destination’
The resort, located on the country’s east coast near an airport in Kangwon Region, officially opened its doors on June 24 following years of delays caused by international sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic
When the resort was first opened, Kim was photographed standing above a sandy beach alongside his daughter and presumed heir Kim Ju Ae
But despite the fanfare surrounding the launch, and initial reports of domestic visitors enjoying the amenities, analysts and satellite imagery suggest the resort may not yet be fully operational.
The US-based 38 North programme reported that several buildings, including a major hotel near the Kalmaegi Hotel, appear to be unfinished or inactive, with one rooftop pool still empty and unnamed buildings missing from official maps.
The temporary closure to foreign guests raises questions about the resorts readiness and Pyongyang’s strategy for promoting international tourism.
Russia remains the only country whose citizens have been permitted entry since North Korea relaxed its pandemic-era border restrictions. A Russian travel agency had reportedly scheduled two additional group tours for August.
During Lavrov’s visit, Russian media praised the resort’s facilities, though a reporter from Kommersant observed that the beach appeared largely deserted.
A separate Russian media report claimed that local North Koreans were used to simulate tourist activity during the visit.
Tourism represents a rare and vulnerable source of foreign currency for North Korea, which remains under heavy international sanctions.
Experts suggest the current ban on foreign visitors is likely to last if Pyogyang hopes to recoup the costs of the high-profile project.
‘If foreign tourists aren’t allowed to the site, Russian rubles, Chinese yuans and dollars won’t come in. Then, North Korea can’t break even and it has to shut down the resort,’ said Ahn Chan Il, head of the World Institute for North Korean Studies think tank in Seoul.
Domestic tourists watch as a man uses a slide into a swimming pool at the Myongsasimni Water Park in the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in Wonsan, North Korea’s Kangwon Province on July 2, 2025
The temporary closure to foreign guests raises questions about the resorts readiness and Pyongyang’s strategy for promoting international tourism
The abrupt reversal comes only days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the site on July 12, where he was hosted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un , who described Lavrov as the resort’s ‘first foreign guest’
The North Korean government has provided no official explanation for the sudden policy shift.
However, some analysts believe the move reflects lingering construction issues or concerns about appearances should foreign visitors witness conditions that fall short of state media’s portrayal.
Rachel Minyoung Lee, a non-resident fellow at 38 North, said the opening of the Wonsan-Kalma resort serves to support state messaging around Kim Jong Un’s ‘people-first’ policy while balancing his continued focus on military development.
‘Wonsan-Kalma is open to just North Koreans for now, but we should not be surprised to see Russians at the resort in the not-too-distant future,’ she told CNN.
Meanwhile, the regime has unveiled a new railway station at Kalma to support access to the tourist zone, touting its role in providing ‘a high level of convenience’ for travellers.
