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North Korea Opens Yombunjin Coastal Park, Expanding East‑Coast Tourism Drive

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Completion ceremony marks new coastal tourism hub North Korea held a ceremony on Jan 21, 2026 in North Hamgyong Province to inaugurate the Yombunjin Coastal Park Area, featuring the Yombunjin Haeyang Hostel and adjacent beach [1]. State media described the site as “splendidly built” and positioned it for both rest‑seeking and business travelers. The event underscores Pyongyang’s continued emphasis on expanding visitor infrastructure along the east coast.

Facilities offer modern entertainment for visitors KCNA highlighted a range of amenities including a hostel, beach frontage, movie theaters, retail shops and video arcades within the park [1]. These attractions aim to provide a visitor‑friendly environment comparable to international resort standards. The inclusion of varied amusements signals a shift toward diversified tourism offerings.

Project evolves from 2011 hotel plan to broad park Construction began in 2011 under Kim Jong‑il as a single hotel project, but stalled for years before Kim Jong‑un inspected the site in 2018 and ordered a redesign into a comprehensive coastal park [1]. The completed complex reflects this strategic pivot, expanding the original scope to incorporate multiple leisure facilities. The transformation illustrates long‑term planning despite earlier delays.

Tourism development targets foreign currency amid sanctions Officials framed the Yombunjin site as part of a series of east‑coast projects, including the July opening of the Kalma beach resort, intended to attract foreign visitors and generate hard currency [1]. The push aligns with broader economic measures to mitigate the impact of international sanctions. Revenue from tourism is presented as essential for sustaining the economy.

Construction accelerates ahead of upcoming party congress The park’s completion coincides with the inauguration of the Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp hot‑spring resort, both unveiled shortly before a key party congress expected next month [1]. This timing suggests a concerted effort to showcase new infrastructure achievements. The rapid rollout of tourism sites aims to project development momentum to domestic and international audiences.

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Timeline

Dec 29 1967 – South Korea designates Mount Jiri as the nation’s first national park, establishing a precedent for protected natural areas and domestic nature tourism that later informs both South and North Korean tourism strategies[3].

2011 – Construction of a hotel in the Yombunjin coastal area begins under the direction of then‑leader Kim Jong‑il, marking the earliest phase of what will become a large‑scale coastal tourism project in North Hamgyong Province[1].

2018 – Kim Jong‑un inspects the stalled Yombunjin site and orders a redesign from a single‑hotel concept to a modern coastal park, signaling a shift toward broader, revenue‑generating leisure complexes amid tightening sanctions[1].

Dec 2024 – A passenger jet belly‑lands and explodes at Muan Airport, killing 179 people, becoming one of South Korea’s deadliest air disasters and underscoring the importance of safety and infrastructure in the peninsula’s broader transport narrative[3].

July 2025 – North Korea opens the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area on the east coast, the first major seaside resort in a series of projects aimed at attracting foreign visitors and hard currency under international sanctions[1].

Dec 20 2025 – Kim Jong‑un and his daughter Ju‑ae attend the inauguration of five modern hotels at the Samjiyon Tourist Resort near Mount Paektu; Kim declares an “unshakable will to turn Samjiyon into an innovative and highly civilized tourism showcase” and stresses improving hotel staff qualifications to boost hard‑currency earnings[5].

Dec 23 2025 – At a second ceremony, Kim Jong‑un tours the newly opened Ikkal and Milyong hotels, stating that “all elements are at a high level in practicality, diversity and artistic features,” reinforcing the regime’s commitment to a high‑profile mountain‑tourism hub[4].

Dec 26 2025 – Kim Jong‑un leads a week of factory openings in Sinpho, Jangyon and Kilju, while also overseeing the test‑firing of new long‑range anti‑air missiles that hit mock targets accurately, showcasing simultaneous economic development and military readiness[2]. He warns that Seoul’s plan to build an 8,700‑ton nuclear‑powered submarine “will worsen regional instability,” framing the missile test as a deterrent response[2].

Jan 21 2026 – North Korea holds a completion ceremony for the Yombunjin Coastal Park Area in North Hamgyong Province; state media describes the Yombunjin Haeyang Hostel, beach, movie theaters, shops and video arcades as “splendidly built” and positions the site as a new hub for rest and business travelers ahead of the upcoming party congress[1]. The inauguration follows the recent remodeling of the Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp hot‑spring resort, highlighting a rapid push to showcase tourism infrastructure before the political gathering[1].

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