The stunning North Korean spa inspired by Benidorm

Although there are countless fascinating destinations across the globe, one of the most intriguing among travelers from Spain is North Korea, as the secretive Asian country is one of the most peculiar places on the planet. Tourism in the nation ruled by Kim Jong-un is undoubtedly a mystery in itself, and from time to time, state media publish images that only serve to emphasize this.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has revealed one of the dictator's latest eccentricities: he has grandly inaugurated a monumental beach resort in the city of Wonsan, on the Asian country's east coast, about two hours from the capital, Pyongyang. This monumental beach hotel complex follows the usual pattern of other North Korean buildings, although this construction has something much more special: it resembles those in Benidorm.

North Korea's Huge New Beach Hotel

At the end of June, Kim Jong-un was the master of ceremonies at the opening of Wosan Kalma, an impressive hotel complex located on the city's beach that will accommodate more than 20,000 tourists. This resort is located in the city of Wosan, a mecca of luxury tourism in the country and where the president himself spent part of his childhood. It's no surprise, then, that this resort was built there.

Wosan Kalma boasts a multitude of restaurants, hotels, swimming pools, shopping centers, a spa, and even a water park for visitors to relax and have fun. Furthermore, four kilometers of beaches border the entire resort, making it one of the country's top intra-country tourist destinations since its opening on July 1.

The buildings in the complex on the shores of the Sea of Japan may resemble the grand hotels and apartment blocks found in Benidorm, although this recent creation by Kim Jong-un is a far cry from the popular holiday destination in the province of Alicante. Furthermore, for the time being, only North Koreans will be able to enjoy it, in keeping with the nation's stricture regarding tourism.

The Wosan Kalma is just one of the many eccentricities that have opened in recent years in North Korea, a peculiar country marked by its isolation from the rest of the world. Travel to the Asian nation is virtually impossible, so foreign tourism is marginal, although Kim Jong-un continues to open gigantic hotels, such as the Ryugyong in the capital itself.