North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the completion ceremony of the Onpo Workers’ Resort, a hot spring recreational facility in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province, and ordered its official opening next month.
The Workers’ Party of Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Wednesday that the grand completion ceremony for the Onpo Workers’ Resort took place on Tuesday, with Kim in attendance.
Kim cut the ceremonial ribbon and toured the resort, praising its layout. He noted that each section was arranged practically and harmoniously, with all architectural elements blending seamlessly with the surrounding natural environment.
The North Korean leader emphasized that the party’s leadership achievements should be manifested not through signs or words, but through tangible benefits that the people can experience and celebrate in their daily lives. He stressed that actively developing the country’s natural resources to enhance the people’s well-being is a crucial component of the party and government’s people-oriented policies.
During the event, Kim called for the establishment of a new organization to uniformly manage the numerous resort facilities across the country.
He criticized the current oversight of the Onpo Workers’ Resort by the Ministry of Labor’s Resort Management Bureau as inefficient. Kim explained that with new tourist sites and resorts being established nationwide to improve public welfare, the current decentralized management by various provinces cannot ensure effective operation, including equipment, materials, facilities, technology, and personnel management.
Kim instructed officials to study the creation of a unified management system for therapeutic and recreational facilities nationwide while enhancing service professionalism. The newspaper added that he proposed new strategies for expanding cultural spaces and activities.
The leader insisted on thorough preparation for operations and services, including equipment testing, to ensure the resort opens in February.
Party Secretary Ri Il-hwan, speaking at the ceremony, highlighted the Onpo Workers’ Resort’s nearly 80-year history and its transformation into a comprehensive cultural and recreational hub. He claimed that visitors would regain health and vitality while experiencing the fulfillment of socialist life.
Photos released by the newspaper revealed that the resort is equipped with various hot spring facilities, as well as therapeutic and accommodation amenities.
The renovation of the Onpo Workers’ Resort began after Kim’s visit in July 2018, where he criticized the outdated facilities and poor management. He ordered the complete demolition of existing structures and the construction of a top-tier resort. Although Kim had initially set the completion deadline for the party’s 80th founding anniversary on October 10, 2022, the project was finalized about three months behind schedule.