Fri Jul 18 09:39:45 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewrite as a news article, keeping in mind the “The View From India” perspective, highlighting potential geopolitical implications:

**Summary:**

North Korea has abruptly suspended foreign tourist entry to its newly opened Wonsan-Kalma mega beach resort, a project touted by Kim Jong Un as a major success. The move, announced on a North Korean tourism website, provides no reason for the ban and raises questions about the resort’s viability. This follows a recent visit by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, who pledged support for Russian tourism to the zone, and comes amidst strengthening ties between North Korea and Russia. Experts speculate the ban could be due to negative press from a Russian journalist, difficulties in attracting enough Russian tourists, or broader concerns about opening up to foreigners. The resort’s success is crucial for North Korea’s economy, and the ban jeopardizes potential revenue from Russian and Chinese tourists. This also signals North Korea’s reluctance to completely open borders despite easing Covid-19 restrictions.

**News Article:**

**North Korea Halts Foreign Tourism to Mega Resort, Clouds Economic Prospects**

**Seoul, July 18, 2025 (The Hindu) -** In a move that raises eyebrows and casts doubt on its economic ambitions, North Korea has suspended the entry of foreign tourists to its recently inaugurated Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort. The sudden ban, announced on the official DPR Korea Tour website, throws into question the viability of a project hailed by Kim Jong Un as “one of the greatest successes this year.”

This development comes shortly after a high-profile visit from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who pledged to bolster Russian tourism to the zone during a meeting with Kim. North Korea and Russia have been forging closer ties, particularly in military cooperation, with North Korea allegedly supplying weaponry for Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.

However, analysts suggest that the tourism ban may stem from negative coverage in Russian media. Oh Gyeong-seob from Seoul’s Korea Institute for National Unification suggests that the North Korean government is sensitive to the potential negative consequences of opening up to foreigners.

“The sudden tourism ban is a setback for North Korea’s economic goals,” says Ahn Chan-il, head of the World Institute for North Korean Studies. He further stated that the halt in tourism means no Russian rubles or Chinese yuan coming into the country, therefore, they will be unable to break even on the resort.

This decision carries wider geopolitical significance. For India, which has been closely monitoring the evolving dynamics in the Korean Peninsula, the North Korean decision underscores the inherent risks associated with heavily relying on only Russia and China as economic partners.

The resort’s success is seen as crucial for generating much-needed foreign currency for North Korea, a nation grappling with a heavily sanctioned economy. Experts believe the suspension highlights the difficulties Pyongyang faces in balancing its desire for economic development with its deep-seated concerns about external influence and control.

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