What does a totalitarian dictatorship closed off from most of the world need? Some kick-ass water slides, of course.
What happened: The first Russian tourists visited North Korea’s new coastal tourist site in Wonsan Kalma last week. The country’s first resort is trying to lure domestic, Russian, and Chinese tourists with attractions like camping, an entertainment district, and a water park.
- According to a BBC Verify investigation, the visit was offered by a Russian travel operator with three days at the resort as part of a week-long trip that cost US$1,800.
Catch-up: Construction began in 2018 and was nearly completed that year before work on it mysteriously paused. The project re-started last year after Kim Jong Un met with Vladimir Putin, who said he would encourage Russian tourists to visit.
Why it matters: Courting tourists appears to be a part of North Korea’s wider goal of strengthening ties with Russia. This included re-opening its borders to Russian tourists in 2024 and sending troops to fight alongside Russian soldiers in the war against Ukraine.
- North Korea is growing more dependent on Russia as relations with China, traditionally its top trade partner, continue to cool. While Chinese tourists could theoretically visit the new resort, BBC Verify found no Chinese tour operators offering packages.
Bottom line: Western-aligned nations like South Korea and the U.S. have signalled a willingness to normalize relations with North Korea, but the feelings seemingly aren’t mutual. So don’t expect to visit it any time soon (unless you really want to put yourself at risk).—QH