North Korea Bans Foreigners from Wonsan Resort
The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone was opened on July 1 and was seen as a key part of leader Kim Jong Un's plans to boost tourism, but the sudden ban on foreign tourists has raised questions about the country's intentions and the true motives behind the closure, with human rights groups criticizing the resort's construction over allegations of mistreatment of workers.
North Korea has temporarily banned foreign tourists from visiting the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort, a key part of leader Kim Jong Un's plans to boost tourism, just weeks after it opened on July 1. The resort, which welcomed its first foreign visitors, is now closed to international tourists due to a notice on the country's tourism website stating that foreigners are "temporarily" not allowed to visit.
The move comes after Russian tourists reportedly arrived at the resort last week, and just days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Kim in Wonsan. This sudden ban has raised questions about the country's intentions and the true motives behind the closure. The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone was touted as one of the country's biggest achievements this year, and its closure to foreign tourists may impact the country's plans to boost tourism.
The resort has been criticized by human rights groups over allegations of mistreatment of workers during its construction, which began in 2018. The construction of the resort was seen as a major project for the country, but the allegations of mistreatment of workers have raised concerns about the country's human rights record. The ban on foreign tourists may be an attempt to avoid further scrutiny of the resort's construction and the country's human rights record.
The temporary ban on foreign tourists from visiting the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort may have significant implications for North Korea's tourism industry and its relations with other countries. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how long the ban will be in place and what impact it will have on the country's economy and international relations.