North Korean state media has revealed that authorities are internally promoting a giant beach resort project on the east coast, hinting that the long-stalled development could open this spring or summer after Russians were given a sneak peek this month.

Construction started on the sprawling Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in Jan. 2018, but it faced several delays through early 2020, while the pandemic and DPRK border closures likely led to it languishing unfinished since.

The tourist zone includes dozens of hotels, shops and entertainment centers along a 3.5-mile-long (5.5 km) stretch of beach — twice as long as