Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
N. Korea bars foreigners from Wonsan, opens doors to Russians
Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone / Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
North Korea has temporarily barred foreign tourists from its newly opened Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone in Kangwon Province on the eastern coast, but appears to be making an exception for Russian visitors, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Friday.
According to the ministry, North Korea welcomed at least three Russian tour groups last month through Russian travel agencies, with itineraries that included Pyongyang, Mount Myohyang, and the Wonsan-Kalma region. Officials said Russian agencies are continuing to recruit travelers this month, and organized tours to the North remain underway.
The discrepancy comes despite a notice posted July 18 on the website of the North Korean State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance, which stated that foreign visitors are “temporarily not accepted” at the Wonsan-Kalma resort.
“North Korea continues to welcome Russian tourists to the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, despite an official ban on foreign visitors,” the ministry told the parliamentary foreign affairs and unification committee earlier this week.
The resort, a flagship project for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, began construction in 2014 and officially opened last month. Of the 17 hotels either completed or under construction at the site, just six are currently operating. Reports suggest the zone is being used primarily on a trial basis for North Korean residents, including factory workers and students.
Analysts say Pyongyang’s push to develop Wonsan-Kalma is part of a broader strategy to attract foreign currency amid sanctions that restrict its trade and industry. Tourism has long been one of the few sectors capable of generating cash, and the regime has sought to showcase the resort as a modern leisure destination.
Allowing Russians in while barring others also highlights North Korea’s deepening ties with Moscow, which has become an increasingly important partner diplomatically and economically.
Domestically, the project is also intended to bolster morale by giving North Koreans access to new leisure facilities, reinforcing Kim’s image as a leader improving living standards.