North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun on July 24 extolled the responses of people who visited the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, with visitors saying the “dreamlike” area gets “more beautiful the more you look at it.” (Rodong Sinmun, News1)Without international tourists to fill its rooms, North Korea’s showcase Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area has quietly transformed into an exclusive destination for the country’s wealthy elite—complete with foreign currency prices that put it far beyond ordinary citizens’ reach.
The resort was designed with strict segregation in mind: separate zones for foreigners and North Koreans to prevent any contact between the groups. But with no international visitors arriving, authorities have temporarily opened the foreigner-only zone to locals who can afford the premium prices.
“Initially, foreigners were supposed to have fun with other foreigners while North Koreans were to have fun with other North Koreans,” said a Daily NK source in Kangwon Province. “Now the zone exclusively for foreigners has been opened to North Koreans since there are no foreigners.”
The arrangement is purely temporary—North Koreans will be kicked out immediately if foreign tourism resumes. Everything in the former foreigner-only zone costs more than three times the local prices, including hotels and activities.
“For ordinary people, it’s a pipe dream,” the source explained. “Fat officials, Pyongyang residents and the nouveau riche go to resorts, while ordinary people mostly go to political events or get mobilized for labor.”
Orchestrated for propaganda
The resort operates only through organized group tours—no private tourism allowed. Even families designated as “heroes” by the state must receive official recommendations and pay substantial fees for basic activities like restaurant meals ($10) or waterskiing ($2 per session).
One “hero” family that visited early this month returned disappointed, realizing the resort was only enjoyable “if you had money.” They felt particularly bitter knowing other deserving families couldn’t afford recommendations.
North Korea has been using visitors as unwitting actors in propaganda productions. Tourists report being ordered to pay attention to their appearance and perform scripted activities—running, waving, clapping and smiling—for cameras.
“People who went on a group tour this month joked that they felt like they went to a film set rather than a resort,” the Kangwon source said.
The state media’s glowing reports of “joyous atmosphere” and “scenes of laughter and romance” are manufactured images that visitors are essentially forced to create.
Meanwhile, downtown Wonsan residents are paying the price for their city’s showcase resort. Water now comes only every two or three days, and electricity has been reduced for homes while the tourist area blazes with bright street lights at night.
“Wonsan residents say the tourist site is receiving priority provisions,” the source noted.