North Korea will open a beach resort on its east coast next week in what authoritarian leader Kim Jong-un hopes will be the 鈥渇irst step鈥 on the path to developing the country鈥檚 tourism sector. The Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone, which spans a 4-kilometre section of beach, comprises hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and a water park, according to state media. Building began in the area in 2018, but was delayed by both construction problems and the COVID-19 pandemic. The zone, which can accommodate roughly 20,000 guests a year, will receive its first domestic visitors on Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. It is not known when international tourists will follow. At the resort鈥檚 grand opening on Tuesday, Kim was accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter, Kim Ju-ae, who is his presumed heir. Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora also attended as a special guest, the KCNA confirmed. The state-run news agency reported Kim as saying that the completion of Wonsan-Kalma would be 鈥渙ne of the greatest successes this year鈥, adding that the site was 鈥渢he proud first step鈥 towards boosting the country鈥檚 tourism industry. Analysts say Russian visitors will likely be granted access before other foreigners, given the close relationship between the two countries. North Korea and Russia deepened their alliance last year by signing a mutual defence treaty. Pyongyang has also sent thousands of troops to its neighbour to help with its war against Ukraine. 鈥淚 think North Korea will soon accept Russian tourists, given the Russian embassy officials attended the ceremony,鈥 said Lee Sangkeun, an expert at South Korea鈥檚 Institute for National Security Strategy, a think tank run by Seoul鈥檚 intelligence agency.鈥淭here seems to be issues that North Korea hasn’t yet resolved in its relations with China. But North Korea has put in too much money on tourism and plans to spend more. Subsequently, to get its money’s worth, North Korea can’t help receiving Chinese tourists,鈥 Lee added.Pyongyang鈥檚 foreign tourist ban, which was implemented in 2020 during the pandemic, still has not been fully lifted. However, Russian groups have been permitted to visit certain parts of the country.