North Koreans play on a beach at the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area on the North's east coast on July 1, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (Yonhap)
North Koreans play on a beach at the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area on the North's east coast on July 1, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (Yonhap)

A Russian travel agency has begun promoting tours for foreign visitors to North Korea's new beach resort, its website showed Saturday, following a period during which entry for foreign nationals had been temporarily suspended.

Vostok Intur, a Vladivostok-based travel agency, announced on its website that it will offer all-inclusive packages for travel to the Kalma resort in Wonsan from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1.

On the first day, it said, travelers will take a bus from Vladivostok to Russia's Khasan Station, then transfer to a train and enter North Korea via the Tumen River Station, before heading to the tourist zone.

The seven-night, eight-day package includes accommodation at a four-star hotel, all meals, and a Russian-speaking tour guide.

For groups of three to five people, the price is US$1,250 per person plus an additional 20,000 rubles (about US$250), amounting to roughly $1,500 per person, according to the agency. Larger groups receive discounted rates.

The agency described the tour as a unique opportunity to experience North Korea's culture and history, largely untouched by Western influence.

North Korea opened the Kalma beach resort on July 1 but abruptly suspended foreign tourist entry on July 18, sparking speculation that the halt was to address shortcomings discovered during its trial operation. (Yonhap)