{"id":2463501,"date":"2025-07-18T12:27:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T16:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-korea-bans-foreigners-from-beach-resort-after-first-round-of-russian-tourists\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T12:30:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T16:30:40","slug":"north-korea-bans-foreigners-from-beach-resort-after-first-round-of-russian-tourists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-korea-bans-foreigners-from-beach-resort-after-first-round-of-russian-tourists\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea bans foreigners from beach resort after first round of Russian tourists"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnorth-korea-bans-foreigners-from-beach-resort-after-first-round-of-russian-tourists%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2463501&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>North Korea has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >temporarily banned foreign visitors<\/a> from the newly opened Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a luxury beach resort on the contry&#8217;s east coast, shortly after it began welcoming tourists. This decision comes unexpectedly and without clarification, despite earlier ambitions to develop a tourism industry targeting international visitors, especially Russians and Chinese. The resort, heavily promoted in both North Korea and Russia, features hotels, restaurants, a water park, and a large beach area capable of hosting thousands of guests. The timing coincides with the arrival of the first group of Russian tourists and a recent visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who met with North Korean leaders. wonsan is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/woke-mob-attacks-kendall-jenner-for-cultural-appropriation-of-tequila\/\" title=\"Woke Mob Attacks Kendall Jenner For \u2018Cultural Appropriation\u2019 Of Tequila\">wealthy area<\/a> associated with the North Korean elite,including Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un,who attended the resort&#8217;s grand opening. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-senator-tells-mark-cuban-call-your-lawyer-after-he-appears-to-out-himself\/\" title=\"US Senator advises Mark Cuban to consult his lawyer after he seemingly reveals his identity\">ban raises questions<\/a> about the resort&#8217;s future and the potential loss of revenue crucial for its maintenance.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">North Korea bans foreigners from beach resort after first round of Russian tourists<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2150975\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea<\/a> is stopping foreign visitors from coming to its newest beach resort less than a month after it opened to the public.<\/p>\n<p>The scenic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vacations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area<\/a> on the nation&rsquo;s east coast announced Friday that it will &ldquo;temporarily&rdquo; be banning international tourists without offering an explanation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3475445\/fighting-resumes-southern-syria-bedouin\/\">Fighting resumes in southern Syria after massive mobilization by pro-government Bedouin tribes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/3473606\/tyrants-need-buffers-chinese-communist-party-hong-kong\/\">Tyrants need buffers: China is not a monolith. That&#8217;s an opportunity for the West.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3474986\/british-government-lower-voting-age-16\/\">British government to lower voting age to 16 years old ahead of next election<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>It is an about-face to the beach club&rsquo;s declared goal of attracting overseas visitors and helping initiate a tourist industry in the totalitarian, hermetic country.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A man plays in the water at the Myongsasimni Water Park of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in Wonsan, Kangwon Province, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo\/Cha Song Ho)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The timing of the regime&rsquo;s decision is raising questions &mdash; the first batch of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Russian visitors<\/a> arrived at the resort last week.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3466321\/russian-foreign-minister-sergey-lavrov-visit-north-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov<\/a> was in the city at the same time, meeting with his North Korean counterparts and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.<\/p>\n<p>Kim was previously joined by Russian ambassadors at the resort&rsquo;s grand opening in late June. He and his young daughter, Kim Ju Ae, were photographed watching North Koreans use a park waterslide while enjoying drinks and cigarettes.<\/p>\n<p>Russians and Chinese citizens were expected to be key demographics for the resort.<\/p>\n<p>Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously called Wonsan Kalma a &ldquo;fantastic resort&rdquo; <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">and its accommodations &ldquo;perfect&rdquo; in an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/unn.ua\/en\/news\/north-korea-banned-foreigners-from-visiting-its-mega-resort-wonsan-kalma\" target=\"_blank\">interview<\/a><\/span>  with state media.<\/p>\n<p>Wonsan has long been among North Korea&rsquo;s richest neighborhoods and is widely seen as a luxury playground for the nation&rsquo;s elites.<\/p>\n<p>Kim spent much of his youth in the region, which has vacation villas and shopping malls utterly foreign to the rest of the impoverished country.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, center right, and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, center left, shake hands as Lavrov prepares to depart at Wonsan Kalma Airport, Kangwon Province, North Korea, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (Korean Central News Agency\/Korea News Service via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The launch of Wonsan Kalma was heavily promoted in North Korea and Russia. Press releases and promotional photography showed visitors enjoying attractions and sitting poolside in beach chairs.<\/p>\n<p>However, the background of some images appeared to betray an almost entirely empty park behind the photo subjects in staged poses.<\/p>\n<p>The resort reportedly boasts a hotel, a shopping center, restaurants, and a water park. The government claims the two-mile tract of beach can accommodate up to 20,000 guests.<\/p>\n<p>It was originally planned to open in April 2019, the birthday of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3469483\/russia-warns-us-and-allies-against-building-alliances-targeting-north-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">RUSSIA WARNS US AND ALLIES AGAINST BUILDING ALLIANCES TARGETING NORTH KOREA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This time frame was compromised by the sheer amount of construction and the COVID-19 pandemic, which ravaged North Korea more intensely than other countries due to widespread malnutrition and a lack of healthcare.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People are seen at the Myongsasimni Water Park of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in Wonsan, Kangwon Province, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo\/Jon Chol Jin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The North Korean tourism board has not provided a timeline for when the resort will be reopened to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/opinion-requiring-proof-of-vaccination-is-a-slippery-slope\/\" title=\"Opinion: Requiring Proof Of Vaccination Is A Slippery Slope\">foreign travelers<\/a>, but the loss of income could prove troublesome for the upkeep of the luxurious complex.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2150975\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2150975\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North Korea halts foreign visits to new beach resort after Russian tourists<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2463502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25186002479349.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[59416,32109,59417,59418,44845],"class_list":["post-2463501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-beach-resort","tag-north-korea","tag-russian-tourists","tag-tourism-restrictions","tag-travel-ban"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25186002479349.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2463501"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2463506,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463501\/revisions\/2463506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2463502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2463501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2463501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2463501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}