North Korea has opened a large coastal resort in its eastern Kalma region, with leader Kim Jong Un describing the project as a key development in the country’s tourism sector, according to state media on Thursday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, marking the completion of the new Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area. The site spans a 4-kilometre stretch and includes accommodation facilities capable of hosting around 20,000 visitors.

The development includes housing, hotels, hostels, and facilities for swimming, sports, and leisure, along with commercial and public catering services.

The resort is scheduled to open to domestic tourists from 1 July. KCNA noted that it forms part of broader efforts to enhance North Korea’s tourism infrastructure, with potential for international visitors as well.

Kim stated that the site should serve as a model for developing the country's tourist culture and viewed it as a first step in expanding cultural tourism within North Korea.

He was accompanied at the event by his daughter, Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, marking her first public appearance since 1 January 2024. Russian ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, was also in attendance.

In February, North Korea permitted the entry of Western tourists for the first time in five years by reopening its touristic border city of Rason, which had been closed since 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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