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Foreign ministers

North Korea Bars Foreign Tourists from Newly Opened Beach Resort

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

North Korea's east coast resort, dubbed a "world-class tourist and cultural destination," has been closed to foreign visitors just weeks after its opening. The unexpected move comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised the resort as a "fantastic holiday destination." North Korea's official tourism site announced that foreign visitors are "temporarily not accepted" in the zone, with no explanation provided. The resort, which took years to develop and was originally set to open in 2019, was touted as a major tourism project and a national treasure-level destination.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a "world-class tourist and cultural destination," was closed to foreign visitors after its opening despite Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's praise for the resort.
  • The resort was developed after years of construction and was originally set to open in 2019, but it was delayed due to international sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • North Korean leader Kim Jong Un celebrated the resort's completion and hailed it as one of the regime's "greatest successes this year."
  • Russian tourists were scheduled to visit the resort in August, but the ban on foreign visitors has halted these tours.
  • The resort stretches along 2.5 miles of coastline and can host up to 20,000 visitors, according to state media.
  • The resort features 43 hotels, guesthouses, and campgrounds, including a man-made lake.
  • The ban on foreign tourists may be due to ongoing development or improvements, according to some analysts.

Statistics:

  • The resort was developed over several years and cost an estimated amount (no specific figure mentioned in the source).
  • The resort can host up to 20,000 visitors, according to state media.
  • The resort features 43 hotels, guesthouses, and campgrounds, according to information cited by the BBC.

Sources:

  • Bloomberg
  • The Korea JoongAng Daily
  • DPR Korea Tour (official tourism site of North Korea)
  • BBC
  • CNN
  • Associated Press

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