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North Korea’s Wonsan Kalma resort, a new beachfront complex likened to Spain’s Benidorm, welcomed its first group of Russian tourists this week, following a grand opening by leader Kim Jong Un last month. Hailed as a “world-class tourist destination,” the resort’s development has sparked concerns over human rights abuses, with reports of forced labour and harsh working conditions.
**A Vision of Tourism** The resort, located in Wonsan where Kim spent much of his youth, was designed to attract up to one million visitors annually while remaining a controlled zone. Ri Jong Ho, a defected North Korean official involved in early planning, said the goal was to cautiously open the country to tourism. In 2017, a North Korean delegation visited Benidorm, Spain, studying its high-rise hotels, theme parks, and marina to inspire the project. Satellite imagery and internal documents reveal a 4km coastal stretch featuring 43 hotels, an aquatic park with water slides, a theatre, a cinema, and recreation centres. Construction began in 2018, with 80% of the resort completed by year-end, according to SI Analytics. Work paused thereafter but resumed after a June 2024 meeting between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who encouraged Russian tourism to North Korea. **Human Rights Concerns** The rapid construction has raised alarms about worker treatment. The UN has reported North Korea’s use of “shock brigades,” forced labour units enduring brutal conditions. James Heenan of the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul noted reports of 24-hour work shifts to meet deadlines. Cho Chung Hui, a defector who managed such brigades, described workers facing extreme physical strain, with some women suffering severe health impacts. Kang Gyuri, who fled Wonsan in 2023, said her cousin worked on the site hoping to earn residency in Pyongyang, but faced inadequate food and rest. She also reported residents being evicted without compensation as the project expanded, with satellite imagery confirming demolitions near the resort. **Tourism Prospects** While North Korea hopes to draw tourists, primarily from China and Russia, to revive its economy and strengthen ties with Moscow, only Russian agencies currently advertise Wonsan tours. One agency reported 12 Russians joined a $1,800 (£1,300) week-long trip, including three days at the resort—60% more than Russia’s average monthly salary. Two more trips are planned for August. However, Andrei Lankov, an expert at Kookmin University, doubts the resort’s appeal, citing superior alternatives like Turkey and Thailand, where tourists face less supervision. North Korea remains largely closed to foreigners, with only controlled tours permitted.
