Inside North Korea’s vast — and nearly empty — new resort

Miles of white sand, turquoise waters, and rows of pristine beachfront hotels line the shore at the newly built Wonsan-Kalma resort. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hopes the development will be his country’s answer to Waikiki. But there’s one problem: the tourists aren’t there. When CNN reviewed footage from the resort, which opened in June, only a handful of Russians could be seen on the vast stretches of beach. The rest of the area appeared empty.

The Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone has long been one of Kim Jong Un’s pet projects, frequently showcased in state media. Its pastel-colored hotels, water parks and beachfront promenades were built to broadcast a message: North Korea is open for business.

The reality on the ground tells a different story. Strict Covid-19 protocols remain in place. Tourists are limited almost entirely to tightly managed Russian groups. Chinese and Western visitors are still banned.

CNN senior international correspondent Will Ripley reports. #CNN #News