North Korea’s $-billion Wonsan-Kalma Resort Stands Empty as Tourist Numbers Remain Low

The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, a massive resort on North Korea’s eastern shore, opened in July 2025 with capacity for roughly 20,000 guests and a suite of amenities such as hotels, beaches and water parks. One year on, the site remains largely empty, drawing only small Russian tour groups while Chinese tourists, historically the main source of revenue, have not resumed regular visits despite a February embassy visit by Wang Yajun and a July trip by senior official Wang Huning.

The venture was designed to earn hard currency amid international sanctions, yet the regime’s insistence on strict information control conflicts with the openness required for a thriving tourism industry. High construction costs also make the resort inaccessible to ordinary North Koreans, highlighting a domestic inequality. Ultimately, the zone’s future hinges on whether China will send enough visitors to offset the shortfall and whether Pyongyang can balance revenue needs with its desire to limit external influence.