Following years of delays, it is believed Kim Jong-un will welcome overseas tourists to a ‘seaside’ destination believed to be modelled on Spain’s famous Costa Blanca region
Ruthless dictator Kim Jong-un could soon open a Benidorm-style seaside town following years of delay. The North Korean leader reportedly sent a ‘fact-finding mission’ to Spain’s famous Costa Blanca region back in 2017 to try and gain insight into ‘sun-kissed holidays’.
Known as the Wonsan-Kalma project, and built at a former missile launch site, the so-called holiday destination is said to finally be ready to welcome visitors from abroad. It follows years of delayed blame on Covid-related shortages of materials as well as ‘design changes’.
State media claims Jong-un expressed ‘great satisfaction’ over the new facilities, which appear to feature a slew of hotels, pools, and a long stretch of beach. Local media also states that Vostok Intur, a travel firm based in Russia, has announced three tour dates to the resort starting in early July.
“Be the first guests and spend an unforgettable vacation in one of the most ecologically clean places in the world with the best entertainment for any budget, restaurants to suit every taste,” said the Russian post, believed to be found on Telegram. According to the Korea Herald, the eight-day programme is priced at around £1,109 plus additional expenses, and includes seven nights with three meals a day, flights, and internal tours of Pyongyang on the return trip.
Travel firm On The Beach recently created a page about the destination, allowing people to ‘register their interest’. “We were surprised to see more than 250 holidaymakers put their names down,” said chief customer officer Zoe Harris. “[But] I don’t envisage us Brits swapping Benidorm for a North Korean Benidorm anytime soon.”
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However, Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, branded a trip to the destination as unsafe and immoral – reminding Brits of the terrifying regime that oppresses its civilians. “The Wonsan-Kalma resort was built with forced labour. Vacationing there is morally and ethically wrong – it is truly an abomination,” he added.
It is no surprise that the FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to North Korea, meaning Brits should air extreme caution if they wish to visit. “The level of tension on the Korean Peninsula remains high,” the body warns. “While daily life in the capital city, Pyongyang, may appear calm, the security situation in North Korea can change quickly with no advance warning about possible actions by the authorities. This poses significant risks to British visitors and residents.”
It is also worth noting that the British Embassy in Pyongyang remains closed, meaning support from the FCDO for British nationals is ‘severely limited’. “However, the routine lack of access to internet and mobile networks makes it almost impossible to communicate outside of North Korea,” the FCDO adds. South Korean and US tourists are ‘very unlikely’ to be allowed in the destination due to the current conflict.
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