In brief
In a surprising move, North Korea has barred foreign tourists from its Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which opened only on July 1 as part of leader Kim Jong Un's push for tourism growth. This decision comes shortly after the first group of Russian tourists arrived at the resort, coinciding with a meeting between Kim and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who had praised the new development. A notice on the North Korean tourism website cites a "temporary" ban on foreign visitors. The resort, which boasts a water park, hotels, and shopping areas along a 4km beachfront, can accommodate around 20,000 guests. However, the resort's construction has drawn criticism for alleged labor rights violations against workers. This abrupt change in policy follows a brief period of welcoming foreign tourists, including those from Western nations, before tourism was halted shortly thereafter without an explanation.
