North Korea stated on the 18th that it is "temporarily not accepting foreign tourists" for the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area. It is a place that has focused on promoting foreign tourist attraction, but has suddenly changed to a restrictive operation.
The North Korean National Tourism Administration's website, ChosonTourism, announced on that day that the Kalma tourist area had "started operations on July 1." The reason for changing the policy was not explained separately.
Last week, North Korea welcomed Russian tourists for the first time, as reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the 12th. According to a Russian travel agency that was queried by the BBC, two additional travel packages are scheduled for August.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, also visited Wonsan from the 11th to the 13th with a group of Russian reporters. He met with Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea, and toured the tourist facilities. Some interpretations suggest that North Korea's moves are aimed at "promoting Wonsan."
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, appeared on Sputnik Radio on the 16th (local time) and described the resorts in Wonsan-Kalma as "a fantastic vacation spot."
Speculation has arisen that North Korea's sudden decision not to accept foreign tourists at the Kalma tourist area is due to low demand. According to the BBC, the expense of a week-long trip to North Korea, including three days at the Kalma tourist area, is about $1,800 (approximately 2.48 million won). This is about 60% higher than the average monthly salary of Russian workers, indicating low demand and suggesting a purpose to prepare measures.