N. Korea opens large-scale coastal tourist zone this week

North Korea has opened a large-scale coastal tourist zone in the eastern region, state media reported Wednesday, as the country seeks to nurture the tourism industry in an apparent bid to secure much-needed foreign currency amid international sanctions. The Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area opened Tuesday, attracting many guests across the country, including from Pyongyang and North Hamgyong Province, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korean leader Kim Jong-un celebrated the completion of the construction of the beach resort last week, touting it as one of the country's greatest feats this year. The North said the new tourist zone will start service for domestic tourists July 1. "At a time when many workers from the country are aspiring for travel to the magnificent tourist attraction which is unparalleled in the world, many guests visited the zone on the first day of its service," the KCNA said. North Korea's state media earlier described the beach resort as housing hotels and hostels capable of accommodating nearly 20,000 guests, both domestic and foreign. It isWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times