Kim Jong Un Unveils Wonsan Kalma Super Resort Amid Gucci Bag Controversy
Wonsan, North Korea, June 27, 2025 — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inaugurated the sprawling Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area on June 24, a massive beachfront resort on the country’s east coast featuring high-rise hotels, colorful water slides, and swimming pools, designed to accommodate up to 20,000 guests. The ceremony, attended by Kim’s daughter Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol Ju, sparked global attention—not only for the resort’s ambitious scale but also for Ri’s appearance with a Gucci bag, a potential violation of UN sanctions banning luxury goods in North Korea.
A Grand Vision for Tourism
The Wonsan Kalma resort, a 4-kilometer stretch along the Kalma Peninsula, boasts 150 buildings, including hotels, sports facilities, and recreational amenities like waterparks, aimed at attracting domestic and foreign tourists, particularly from Russia and China. The project, completed six years behind schedule, opens to North Koreans on July 1, with plans to welcome international visitors later, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim hailed it as a “world-class cultural resort” and a “great auspicious event” to boost tourism and economic growth.
Kim’s inspiration reportedly stemmed from a 2017 research trip by North Korean officials to Spain’s Costa Blanca, where they were “amazed” by modern resort designs. The resort’s scale—potentially one of the largest single-operator beach resorts globally—reflects Pyongyang’s push to earn foreign currency amid economic isolation. “Tourism drives cultural development and regional revitalization,” Kim said, emphasizing its role in North Korea’s economy.
Gucci Bag Sparks Sanctions Debate
Ri Sol Ju’s first public appearance since January 2024 drew scrutiny when photos showed her carrying what appeared to be a Gucci GG Marmont shoulder bag, retailing for over $2,000. UN sanctions prohibit luxury goods exports to North Korea to curb funding for its nuclear and missile programs, yet such items reportedly enter via diplomatic pouches. Kim’s taste for luxury, from watches to private jets, is well-documented, with Russian President Vladimir Putin gifting him a limousine in 2023. “The Gucci bag is a blatant signal of elite privilege in a country where workers earn less than $4 a month,” said a Seoul-based analyst, noting the average North Korean relies on black-market work to survive.
Strategic Push for Russian Tourists
The presence of Russia’s ambassador, Aleksandr Matsegora, at the ceremony underscores North Korea’s focus on Russian tourists, who returned in 2024 after a post-COVID hiatus. A direct Pyongyang-Moscow train, resuming after five years, arrived in Russia on June 25, signaling deeper ties. Experts like Lim Eul-chul of Kyungnam University suggest the resort could host future diplomatic summits, potentially with U.S. President Donald Trump or South Korea, given its proximity to Kim’s private villas in Wonsan.
Challenges and Skepticism
Despite Kim’s optimism, doubts linger about the resort’s viability. North Korea’s tourism sector, heavily restricted, allows foreign visitors only on supervised tours. Bruce W. Bennett of RAND told Business Insider that filling 20,000 rooms is “highly unlikely” due to limited international appeal. Construction delays, exacerbated by sanctions and a mysterious turtle-shaped structure (possibly an aquarium), have raised questions about profitability. Recent oil tanker activity near Wonsan’s port suggests a rushed completion, per SI Analytics.
What This Means
The Wonsan Kalma resort marks North Korea’s bold bet on tourism to bolster its economy, but its success hinges on attracting foreign visitors amid stringent sanctions and geopolitical tensions. Ri Sol Ju’s Gucci bag, while a minor detail, highlights the regime’s defiance of UN restrictions, fueling debate about elite privilege. For readers, the resort’s opening signals Pyongyang’s strategic pivot toward Russia and China, with potential diplomatic implications if global leaders visit. Publishers should monitor whether Wonsan becomes a propaganda tool or a genuine tourism hub, as its empty hotels could tell a different story by year’s end.
