North Korea’s new Wonsan Kalma beach resort has sparked a mix of reactions from Chinese citizens, with some expressing awe at the tourism zone’s scale and others voicing concerns about foreign demand and the return of Chinese tourists. The resort, which opened this week, features hundreds of buildings, including 54 hotels, multiple waterparks, and other entertainment venues.
Chinese social media users have been sharing their opinions on the resort, with some calling it “beautiful” and others expressing anger that North Korea did not prioritize Chinese travelers. Only Russian tour groups are currently scheduled to visit the resort, sparking questions about the legitimacy and logic behind the project.
Many comments also focused on Ri Sol Ju, Kim Jong Un’s wife, who attended the grand opening of the resort for the first time in almost a year and a half. Some users pointed out that her status seems lower than her daughter’s, with one user even joking that she needed a special chair to support her husband’s tall body.
The Wonsan Kalma resort has an official capacity of 20,000 guests and is seen as a potential tourist destination for China. However, North Korea has only allowed Chinese diplomats, students, and select other groups in recent years. The opening of the resort is part of a series of tourism-related policy reversals by North Korea, which also includes allowing Russian travelers and permitting foreign tours to certain cities.
The mixed reactions from Chinese citizens highlight the complexities of tourism in North Korea and the ongoing efforts to revive the country’s tourism industry.
Source: https://www.nknews.org/2025/07/chinese-citizens-marvel-at-north-koreas-megaresort-and-fume-at-their-exclusion