North Korea Takes Step Toward 'Tourist Culture'

North Korea is rolling out a new beach resort on its east coast, hoping to draw tourists—and much-needed revenue—into one of the world's most secretive nations. Leader Kim Jong Un hailed the Wonsan Kalma resort as one of the country's "greatest feats" of the year, though it comes six years after its planned competition. It was initially expected to open in October 2019 before construction delays and the coronavirus pandemic wrecked plans, per the BBC. Kim, who grew up in the town favored by the country's elite, attended an event to celebrate the resort's completion on Tuesday, alongside his wife, daughter, and Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora.

The area will "play a leading role in establishing the tourist culture" of North Korea, Kim said, per the Guardian. State media report the resort on a 2.5-mile stretch of beach with hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and a water park, can accommodate up to 20,000 visitors. It opens to domestic tourists July 1. Some tour operators believe it will later accept Russian tourists—"currently the only foreign nationals allowed into some parts of the country," per the BBC. The two countries have been tightening partnerships and, on Thursday, reopened a direct passenger train route between Pyongyang and Moscow after a five-year closure related to the coronavirus pandemic.