North Korea has opened a vast new beach resort, the Wonsan-Kalma eastern coastal tourist zone, to its citizens, state media reported on Wednesday, even as the country largely maintains its strict ban on foreign tourism.

North Korea opened a massive beach resort on its east coast to the public, state-run media reported Wednesday, with Russian guests expected to start arriving next week.

North Koreans are already splashing about at the mammoth Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone, built to accommodate nearly 20,000 visitors.