Anastasia Samsonova, a 33-year-old human resources worker, recently traveled to a newly opened resort in North Korea. This trip marked her as one of the first tourists at the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which commenced operations on July 1. The resort, located on the country’s east coast, features amenities such as hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and a water park, as reported by state media. However, while initially intended for international visitors, the facility has primarily received Russian tourists, organized by accredited travel agencies.
Samsonova visited with a group of 14 people, and their activities were closely monitored by security personnel. She noted that guides informed her the guards were there to ensure that they did not inadvertently interact with local citizens, as North Korea has been largely closed to outside contact for an extended period. BBC News Russian contacted her after identifying geotags from social media posts related to the resort.
Despite certain restrictions—like prohibitions on photographing construction sites and guidelines for clothing—Samsonova described the experience positively, noting the uncrowded beaches and well-maintained facilities. The beach area was reportedly kept in pristine condition, and the cost of a week-long trip, including three days at the resort, was approximately $1,800, which is significantly higher than the average monthly salary in Russia.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea had curtailed international tourism; however, Russian tourists were permitted to visit again last year. Recently, there were attempts to reopen tourism from Western nations, but these were abruptly halted. There are also reports of constraints regarding access for Chinese tourists. According to expert Andrei Lankov, North Korea intentionally limits foreign visitors to mitigate the risk of local populations comparing their living conditions to those of tourists.
Overall, while Wonsan Kalma is seen as vital for North Korea’s economic recovery, controversies persist regarding its construction and the treatment of workers involved in its development.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c707d1ez0kno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss