Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone
The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone. (KCNA)

Following Kim Jong Un’s July visit to the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, the Cabinet issued new directives on Aug. 22 to accelerate construction and preparation efforts as the project nears completion, Daily NK has learned.

A source in the country, speaking anonymously, said Friday that the directives called for builders to determine where the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone — set to open next May — falls short of global trends and construct it more “technically and culturally” so that the zone perfectly resembles a world-class coastal tourism city.

The Cabinet also issued production plans to several companies, calling on them to determine precisely which areas could be resolved using local resources and which would require foreign currency.

The Myohyang Hoephung JV Company, for its part, has been ordered to mass-produce boats, including Laser-class dinghies with adjustable sails and cruise vessels, to ply the waters of the tourism zone by next April.

The Cabinet order was delivered by the Ministry of External Economic Relations to the Myohyang Hoephung JV Company, which is now adjusting its production plans while simultaneously recruiting technical personnel to send to China.

The company plans to have the technicians research which materials and technologies will be used during the production of the boats and quickly report their findings home.

The Ministry of External Economic Relations also instructed the Myohyang Hoephung JV Company to increase production while simultaneously ensuring that its existing export schedule remains unhindered so that exports continue smoothly. 

“The development of the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone has entered its final stage amid difficult economic conditions, but many things remain lacking, and there is much to resolve. The government is pressing related companies to wake up and quickly make progress with their work,” the source said.

“The government stressed that opening the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone in May was decided during the 19th Enlarged Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which aimed to clarify an epochal milestone in the development of regional industry, and that party decisions must be thoroughly implemented.”

The clock is ticking

Kim Jong Un discussed the “regional development 20×10 policy” during this political meeting in January. He expressed satisfaction with the policy’s adoption, highlighting its potential to rapidly develop regional economies and contribute to overall state prosperity. Kim also emphasized the strategic importance of expediting major policy-driven projects.

All of this suggests North Korea intends to ramp up full-scale tourism activities for Chinese nationals and other foreigners while pushing the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone as part of its regional development policy.

“The Myohyang Hoephung JV Company believes next April leaves them very little time, and they are on edge as they must resolve the task as it is party policy,” the source said.

Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.

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