Thousands of vacationers might find a new spot to unwind, as North Korea unveils a beach resort catering to 20,000 guests. The question remains, though, if the resort will attract tourists in droves.
In the heart of one of the world's most secluded nations, North Korea, a grand spectacle unfolded as supreme leader Kim Jong Un unveiled the extravagant Kalma beachside resort. Deliberately dubbed a "national treasure-level tourism city," this lavish seaside development boasts waterparks, sky-scraping hotels, and accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests, all nestled against a stark backdrop of hardship and hunger experienced by the North Korean populace [1][2].
The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which took center stage on June 24th, resides on the eastern coast of North Korea, as reported by the country's official KCNA news service. Though service for domestic guests is set to commence on July 1st, details regarding eligibility and transportation remain scant [3]. To cater to travelers, North Korea inaugurated the Kalma train station earlier in the month, with the aim of ensuring a smooth experience for visitors bound for the coastal tourist area [3].
Given the project's proximity to an international airport, it's a clear signal that this grand endeavor is geared toward drawing foreign currency [3][2]. With international attendance limited solely to the Russian ambassador and staff, there's little doubt that Pyongyang seeks to strengthen its ties with Moscow [3]. This move comes as the West increasingly distances itself from Kim's authoritarian regime [2].
As a reminder of the bleak reality lingering just beyond the resort's glamour, UN human rights chief Volker Turk painted North Korea as a suffocating, claustrophobic environment, devoid of hope [2]. This summarizes daily life under Kim's rule, where survival is a constant struggle.
Last year, small groups of Russian tourists embarked on three-day ski holidays at the Maskiryong resort, a long-standing tourist attraction since its opening in December 2013 [5]. These trips, like all tourist escapades within North Korea, were closely monitored and controlled by the government [5].
As the drumrolls continue for the accessibility of Wonsan-Kalma, Rachel Minyoung Lee, a non-resident fellow with the 38 North program at the Stimson Center, postulates that Russian tourists will soon flock to the resort [5]. Lee believes that the opening of major beach resorts like Wonsan-Kalma helps to solidify the state media narrative of Kim's people-first policy and serves to counterbalance his heightened focus on bolstering national defense [5].
Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean Studies at South Korea's Kyungnam University, suggests that the initial target of the resort will be elite Pyongyang residents such as party officials and other high-ranking figures [2]. "The ceremony at the Wonsan-Kalma resort mirrors Kim Jong Un's vision of 'socialist civilization' and is part of his strategic efforts to find economic breakthroughs through the tourism industry" [2].
The tantalizing prospect of increased international tourism was previously attempted in the late 90s with the scenic Mount Kumgang area on the southeastern coast, which welcomed visitors from South Korea [1]. The project fostered a rare symbol of inter-Korean engagement during a time of cautious rapprochement. However, it came to an abrupt halt in 2008 when a North Korean soldier fatally shot a South Korean tourist, underscoring the fragility of cross-border cooperation, leading Seoul to suspend the tours indefinitely [1].
Several sites associated with this foray into international tourism were demolished in 2022, including the Onjonggak Rest House hotel that once hosted cross-border family reunions [1]. The question remains whether the secretive and repressive regime of North Korea is committed to continued international tourism, potentially adding to its foreign reserves and prestige.
Remarkably, the resolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reemergence of travel have reopened the doors for international tourism to North Korea, largely restricted to Russian nationals. The shimmering allure of Wonsan-Kalma promises a foray into the unknown, leaving experts skeptical as to whether this will yield the anticipated economic rewards for the Kim regime [5].
"Whether Wonsan-Kalma will ultimately offer Kim Jong Un the much-needed economic gain in the long term remains to be seen," stated Dr. Edward Howell, a North Korea expert at the University of Oxford [5]. "As his regime seeks to stamp out any signs of outside information and ideologies infiltrating the DPRK, the handling of any Western tourists visiting the resort will be of paramount concern" [5].
References:[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-opened-new-resort-after-seven-years-delayed-2023-06-24/[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/25/world/asia/north-korea-opening-new-resort.html[3] https://www.dw.com/en/russia-official-suggests-north-korea-resort-tours-could-start-soon/a-63162316[4] https://koreajournal.org/news/2023/06/25/north-korea-opens-new-beach-resort/[5] https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/25/asia/north-korea-resort-opening-intl-hnk/index.html
Tourists may soon flock to the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, marking a potential increase in international travel to North Korea. However, arguments persist about whether this tourism wave will bring the desired economic benefits for the Kim regime, as the country carefully manages access to prevent outside information and ideologies from entering.
Despite the grandeur unfolding at Kalma beachside resort, daily life beyond its glamour remains challenging for North Korean citizens, according to UN human rights chief Volker Turk, who described it as a suffocating, claustrophobic environment devoid of hope.
