**North Korea Halts Foreign Tourism at Newly Opened Seaside Resort**

**North Korea's Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, recently opened to much fanfare, will not permit foreign tourists, despite initial promotion as an all-inclusive attraction, raising questions about the nation's tourism strategy.**

North Korea has announced a ban on foreign tourists visiting its newly inaugurated seaside resort, the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which opened its doors on July 1, as part of leader Kim Jong Un's vision to enhance tourism. Initially marketed as a destination for both domestic and international visitors, the resort's official tourism website now states that foreigners are "temporarily" prohibited from entering.

Interestingly, just a week prior to the announcement, the first Russian tourists reportedly arrived at the Wonsan-based resort coinciding with a visit from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who praised the development as a promising tourist attraction. Discussions are underway to establish direct flights connecting Moscow and Pyongyang by the end of this month.

Despite the resort's potential, which includes a water park along a 4km beachfront equipped with hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and a capacity for around 20,000 guests, the project has faced backlash from human rights organizations. Concerns have arisen about the treatment of workers involved in its construction, with allegations of forced long hours in harsh working conditions for meager pay.

Russian officials were present at the completion ceremony on June 24, alongside Kim and his family, signaling the importance of Russian tourism to the North Korean economy. Last year, in a post-pandemic revival, North Korea allowed some Russian tourists to visit after a prolonged suspension. However, in February, the country encouraged Western tourists from nations such as Australia, France, Germany, and the UK to visit, only to abruptly halt tourism shortly thereafter without providing an explanation.