North Korea has officially opened a new resort, Wonsan, located on the east coast of the country next to a former missile test site. It is expected that the visitors to the resort will be mainly Russian tourists, who remain almost the only foreigners admitted to certain regions of the DPRK. About this informs The Korea Herald.
Construction, which took six years longer than planned, was completed after delays caused by the pandemic. The resort, stretching along four kilometers of coastline, can accommodate up to 20,000 guests and includes hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and a water park.
The resort has both budget buildings and elite accommodation options – including VIP cottages and hotels with white grand pianos in the lobbies, swimming pools and decorative ponds. At the same time, one of the disadvantages of the complex is its proximity to the missile range, where weapons tests were previously conducted.
Initially, it was planned to complete the tourist complex by April 15, 2019, the birthday of the founder of the DPRK, Kim Il Sung. However, the implementation of the project was repeatedly postponed due to difficulties with the supply of construction materials caused by international sanctions. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, work was completely suspended and resumed only in 2024. There are assumptions that the completion of construction became possible with the support of Russia.
The solemn opening ceremony was held by the leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, who called the resort “one of the biggest successes of this year” and described it as the first stage in the development of the country’s tourism sector. He was accompanied by his daughter Kim Joo Ee and wife Lee Seol Joo. The guest of honor of the event was the Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora.
