North Korea has been building luxury hotels and leisure facilities in an attempt to create a key attraction for international visitors
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has paid a visit to a major tourism site under construction on the country’s eastern coast, discussing plans to open the zone by next year, according to state media reports on Thursday, despite the country still barring most foreign tourists.
The Wonsan-Kalma zone is one of Kim’s most hyped-up tourism projects. For years, North Korea has been erecting luxury hotels and leisure facilities in an attempt to create a key attraction for international visitors. However, the project has reportedly faced setbacks due to a lack of construction materials caused by stringent U. N. sanctions and COVID-19 restrictions.
Kim, accompanied by top deputies, toured the Wonsan-Kalma zone on Tuesday and discussed preparations for its opening by May 2025, as decided at a ruling party meeting in January, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. “A coastal wonderland to be known to the world as the best tourist resort of (North Korea) would be successfully built,” Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA. It cited Kim as saying construction has entered its final stages.
North Korea has been gradually easing its strict pandemic-era curbs and entry restrictions in a bid to boost its economy. However, it has yet to reopen its borders to foreign tourists, with the exception of a relatively small number of Russians who visited earlier this year amid flourishing ties between the two countries.
The return of Chinese tourists to North Korea could provide a significant revenue boost, as they accounted for about 90% of international visitors before the pandemic. In 2019, a record-breaking 300,000 foreign tourists visited North Korea, generating between $90million and $150million, according to experts.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations announced on Wednesday that its director-general had visited North Korea from July 13 to 16. This marked the first visit by a U.N. principal since 2019. The trip by Director-General Qu Dongyu was intended to strengthen the partnership with North Korea and address the country’s food security and nutrition challenges.
However, it remains unclear when North Korea will permit the return of international staff from U. N. agencies. The country’s strict pandemic measures have led to the departure of diplomats and foreign nationals.
