A new beach resort in North Korea, criticized by human rights organizations for alleged abuses during its construction, has officially welcomed its first group of Russian tourists this week. The Wonsan Kalma resort, inaugurated in a lavish ceremony last month by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was promoted as a "world-class tourist and cultural destination."
Details regarding the construction process remain largely opaque due to North Korea's notorious isolation, but investigations by BBC Verify have unearthed disturbing allegations. This includes satellite imagery, internal planning documents, and testimonies from former North Korean insiders raising serious concerns about human rights violations among workers during the resort’s construction.
Kim Jong Un has a personal connection to Wonsan, having spent significant time there during his youth. The area, once a favored vacation spot for the nation’s elite, aims to attract approximately one million tourists while maintaining a largely restricted zone. Former official Ri Jong Ho, who defected in 2014, revealed that the intention was to expose North Korea to foreign visitors gradually.
Before construction began in 2018, Kim dispatched a delegation to Spain to study the popular tourist spot of Benidorm, which influenced the development of the Wonsan resort. Plans reveal a beachside area with 43 hotels, guesthouses, camping sites, and an aquatic park equipped with large water slides. Satellite images indicate rapid construction, with about 80% of the resort completed by the end of 2018, though work then stalled until a meeting between Kim and Vladimir Putin in June 2024 revived efforts.
This expedited timeline raises concerns about the well-being of workers involved in the project. The UN has highlighted forced labor systems in North Korea, particularly allegations of "shock brigades" where workers endure harsh conditions, extended hours, and inadequate pay. James Heenan from the UN Human Rights Office noted reports of laborers working exhausting hours to meet deadlines, constituting a reflection of the shocking treatment typical in such brigades.
Defectors who have spoken to BBC detailed painfully arduous conditions. Cho Chung Hui, who oversaw shock brigades, described a relentless focus on task completion, regardless of the toll on workers. Another defector, Kang Gyuri, reported her cousin’s distressing experience on the construction site, which he believed would provide a route to residency in Pyongyang.
While efforts to develop Wonsan Kalma are considered vital to revitalizing North Korea's struggling economy, the foreign tourism sector remains heavily impacted by restrictions. While planning documents anticipated millions of visitors, practical implementation has been hindered, particularly with foreign travel predominantly limited to a few controlled tours.
The resort did open to North Korean tourists in late June, but international interest remains uncertain. Inquiries with travel agencies in China yielded no options, while Russian operators offered few trips with modest sign-ups. Meanwhile, experts caution that the allure of North Korea's offering may struggle to compete with more appealing destinations like Turkey and Thailand.
As North Korea seeks to bolster its tourism industry and strengthen ties with Russia amid geopolitical tensions, the collateral human cost of constructing the Wonsan Kalma resort cannot be overlooked.
