North Korea's New Resort Welcomes First Russian Tourists Amid Human Rights Concerns

North Korea's Wonsan Kalma resort, recently opened by Kim Jong Un, welcomed its first Russian tourists this week, despite ongoing human rights allegations regarding the harsh conditions faced by construction workers involved in its development.

The newly inaugurated Wonsan Kalma resort in North Korea, marketed as a premier tourist destination, has begun receiving its first group of Russian tourists this week. This opening follows a grand ceremony last month led by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who declared the resort a "world-class tourist and cultural destination." However, the construction of the resort has been marred by reports of severe human rights abuses, particularly concerning the treatment of the workers involved in its development.

Using satellite imagery, internal planning documents, and insights from experts and defectors, BBC Verify has raised concerns over the treatment of laborers at the Wonsan Kalma site. The North Korean government initially envisioned the area as a vacation spot for one million tourists while maintaining tight controls around access to it. With Kim Jong Un's personal connection to Wonsan as his childhood playground, the project is seen both an economic revival effort and a means to bolster ties with Russia amid tightening sanctions.

In a notable precursor to the resort's construction, a high-ranking North Korean delegation visited Spain's Benidorm in 2017 to study their tourism model, which may have inspired elements of the Wonsan Kalma project. Plans for the resort feature 43 hotels, camping areas, and various entertainment infrastructures, though there are doubts regarding their current status due to the opacity of development in such a secretive nation.

While ground-breaking work began in early 2018, the pace of construction raised alarms about potential abuses, with some reports identifying "shock brigades" forced into long and arduous hours without adequate care. Defectors have illustrated grim realities of such labor conditions, including a lack of food and labor policies that ignore worker welfare.

Despite having executed the plan for rapid development, evidence suggests that many local residents faced displacement without compensation, as buildings were demolished to make way for new structures along the coastline. As tourism resumes—limited to mainly Russian citizens for now—North Korea is tasked with rejuvenating its economy while combating the heavily negative perceptions related to its human rights record.

As international relations evolve, it's uncertain whether Russian tourists will favor North Korea over more established destinations such as Turkey or Thailand, especially given their higher service standards. With limited contractual arrangements for Wonsan Kalma already in motion, the future efficacy of North Korean tourism remains in question.