North Korea's New Resort Opens to Russian Tourists Despite Human Rights Concerns**

The Wonsan Kalma resort, recently inaugurated by Kim Jong Un, has begun receiving its first Russian tourists amidst serious allegations of forced labor and harsh working conditions during its construction, highlighting international scrutiny over human rights in North Korea.**

A newly opened beach resort in North Korea, the Wonsan Kalma resort, has begun welcoming its first group of Russian tourists this week, sparking significant concern over the human rights implications surrounding its construction. In a lavish ceremony last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un proclaimed the resort a "world-class tourist and cultural destination," aiming to attract international visitors, specifically targeting a broader audience after years of isolation.

Reports indicate that the construction of the resort has been mired in secrecy, with investigations revealing troubling labor practices linked to "shock brigades"—workers subjected to severe conditions and extensive working hours. Satellite imagery and insights from former North Korean insiders suggest a rapid construction pace, completed with an alarming disregard for worker rights. As highlighted by the UN, there are disturbing reports where laborers worked around the clock amid inadequate compensation and extreme pressure to meet deadlines.

This development follows a historical context where Kim Jong Un aimed to emulate popular tourist hotspots, drawing inspiration from Spain's Benidorm. The Wonsan area, where the resort is located, has a rich association with the North Korean elite's leisure activities, reinforcing the regime's intention to establish a controlled tourist environment.

As North Korea emerges from pandemic travel restrictions, the resort is expected to play a pivotal role in revitalizing a stagnant economy. Initial estimates suggest the goal of pulling in over a million visitors to the site annually, primarily from Russia and China. Although Russia's tourist interest is evident, experts express skepticism over the resort's sustainable appeal given the competition from more developed destinations abroad.

The BBC, probing deeper into the situation, found that while tours from Russian agencies were available, there was virtually no advertisement of trips from China. The prices for excursions are notably steep when compared to local incomes, raising questions about the accessibility of the resort for the average Russian traveler.

Concerns over human rights abuses persist as numerous accounts emerge regarding the treatment of workers involved in the resort’s construction, many of whom endure deplorable conditions leading to health crises and even fatalities without accountability from supervisors. Moreover, locals in Wonsan have reportedly faced displacement from their homes as the resort expanded, compounding the sociopolitical strife accompanying the project's development.

With the global community observing closely, the Wonsan Kalma resort stands at the intersection of North Korea’s efforts to boost tourism and the ongoing scrutiny over human rights within the nation.