North Korea is set to open a new coastal resort to attract international tourism.
The nation's leader, Kim Jong Un, opened the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in a tape-cutting ceremony on Thursday, local time, which will open for domestic tourists on 1 July.
While there was no mention of a date for foreign tourists, tourism remains one of the few sectors in North Korea that is not under international sanctions, although it's borders still remain mostly closed to outsiders.
State media outlet KCNA reports that the resort itself spans a four-kilometre stretch of beach, containing hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and a water park, can accommodate up to 20,000 visitors and would be a “prelude to the new era”.
The site took six years longer than expected before it was completed.
At the opening ceremony, Kim was stationed poolside with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. He watched as people began using the water park facilities for the first time.
