North Korea wants to attract tourists by developing its deserted beach.

The Wonsan-Kalma shore Tourist Zone is currently under construction, and it's quite a surprise to see such a grand beach resort being built in North Korea. After four years of delays, the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area is finally nearing its opening, as evidenced by the newly paved roads, car parks, and even a turtle-shaped arena. It seems that the resort is almost ready to welcome its first guests, with beach chairs already being set up.

Although the resort has only been visited by a small group of Russian tourists and media personnel in February of this year, Russian tour companies have been informed that it will soon be open to the public. However, no specific details have been revealed yet. Unfortunately, for those of us from the UK, a trip to this resort is not possible at the moment due to North Korea's closed borders. Instead, it will cater to domestic students and organized tour groups, as it has been heavily promoted by the propaganda authorities to the local population.

This beach resort holds a special significance for the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, who visited the site in 2019. It is a part of his efforts to improve the living conditions of his people, prioritizing it over military expenditures. The opening ceremony is expected to be heavily publicized by the state media, with the resort being presented as a gift from Kim Jong Un to the ordinary citizens of North Korea. Eventually, the resort will also be open to foreign tourists, although it's uncertain where these visitors will come from.

The construction of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area began in 2018 and was initially scheduled to be completed by 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project faced some delays, as reported by NK News. Recently, there have been new developments in the nearby airport, with repainted markings and resurfaced plane parking pads. However, there seems to be a hiccup in the works, as a nearby waterpark remains incomplete. Despite this, other construction work around the area has begun, including the foundations for large rectangular buildings, whose purpose is yet to be determined.

Kim Jong Un's last visit to the site was in April 2019, and since then, significant progress has been made in the construction of this beach resort. As the finishing touches are being put in place, it's only a matter of time before the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area opens its doors to the world. However, with North Korea's reputation for secrecy, it remains to be seen if this resort will be able to attract a considerable number of foreign visitors. Nevertheless, it's a promising step towards improving the country's tourism industry and providing its citizens with new and modern leisure options.

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