North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the resumption of construction on a seaside resort at Yeombunjin in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province. With the Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone opening in Kangwon Province scheduled for June, North Korea appears to be developing another tourism district along the east coast, drawing significant attention.
According to Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party, Kim recently inspected the new Onpho Rest House project in Kyongsong County on Monday. During this inspection, he outlined “important tasks related to constructing the Yeombunjin Marine Resort.”
The newspaper reported that Kim reviewed and approved detailed business plans and proposals for completing the Onpho Workers’ Rest House and the Yeombunjin Marine Resort. He also approved additional budget expenditures and labor allocations necessary for the finishing work and provided directives regarding their implementation.
Yeombunjin, located in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province, is one of North Korea’s prized east coast beaches. Since the era of former leader Kim Jong Il, there have been plans to develop the area into a tourist destination.
In July 2011, North Korea initiated the construction of the Yeombunjin Hotel following Kim Jong Il’s directive to build a high-quality hotel in Yeombunjin, where the seawater is clear and the sandy beach is excellent.
However, progress on the hotel stalled thereafter. In July 2018, Kim Jong Un visited the construction site and expressed anger at the slow pace of work, accusing the builders of dragging their feet.
During that visit, Kim called for the hotel’s completion and for transforming the Yeombunjin area into a “cultural and leisure space for the people” by October 10, 2019. He also instructed officials to develop the area further by building various types of coastal lodgings and service facilities along a 600-meter stretch of beach, turning it into a distinctive Yeombunjin Coastal Park.
However, due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, development in the area has remained stagnant for the past seven years. Three months ago, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported, citing local sources, that the Yeombunjin Hotel remained abandoned without even having windows installed. The Yeombunjin Coastal Park project was also sidelined to construct the Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone.
While it’s unclear whether the marine hotel Kim recently ordered built is the same project initiated 14 years ago, his additional budget and labor allocation suggest a renewed push to accelerate regional development.
In 2025, Kim has been prioritizing tourism as a key economic initiative. With the Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone now completed and set to open in June, Yeombunjin may be developed as North Korea’s second major coastal tourist district, complementing Kalma.
Beyond its attractive beach, Yeombunjin shares similar tourist resources and infrastructure with the Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone.
Kalma Peninsula is home to Wonsan International Airport, which is used to transport tourists, and is also close to another major tourist destination, Mount Kumgang. When unveiling the newly completed Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone late last year, Kim outlined a vision for linking the area’s tourism industry with Mount Kumgang.
Similarly, Yeombunjin is located near Orang Airport in Chongjin and is close to Chilbo Mountain, which North Korea considers one of its renowned scenic mountains. The area also features famous hot springs, suggesting the possibility of its development as an interconnected tourist district.
Among the travel itineraries shared by Russian tourists who visited North Korea last year, one route included a flight from Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport to Chongjin’s Orang Airport, followed by a visit to Chilbo Mountain and a stop at the seaside.
Additionally, the Rason Special Economic Zone is not far from Yeombunjin. After a five-year suspension, Western tourists were allowed to visit Rason, the only North Korean region. However, tourism there has now been temporarily halted. This suggests the potential for a broader tourism district encompassing Rason, Yeombunjin, and Chilbo Mountain in the future.
