North Korea Beaches Lined with 2,500 Sunbeds Amid Preparations for Chinese Tourists

Satellite images reveal a striking arrangement of approximately 2,500 sunbeds laid out on a beach in Wonsan, North Korea's Kangwon Province. The extensive setup, captured on July 15, shows the beds organized in 25 sections along the Galma coastal tourist area.

This meticulous preparation comes amid speculation that North Korea is gearing up to welcome Chinese group tourists again. The timing coincides with the mid-July visit of Wang Huning, the fourth-highest-ranking official in China's Communist Party, to Wonsan. Analysts suggest this indicates a concerted effort to attract Chinese visitors.

While sunbeds were previously accompanied by parasols, the recent images show fewer parasols, which the report attributes to strong winds along the East Sea coast. New individual parasols have also been added. Furthermore, the tourist zone has seen a significant increase in activity since June, with reports of motorboats, tubes, water sports, and beach volleyball players. The operation of large buses, carts, and trams also points to a ramp-up in tourism infrastructure and services.