North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's government has been building the coastal city of Wonsan into a beachside resort town, according to a report from Reuters.
Wonsan occupies a special place in North Korean politics, acting as both a luxury getaway for elites and a testing ground for missile, artillery, and other military tests.
But Kim has an ambitious vision for the city — he hopes to redevelop it into a tourist destination that will generate billions of dollars, and hopes to do so by attracting foreign corporate investment.
Here are some photos that capture the surreal nature of the Wonsan project:
Wonsan is a city along North Korea's east coast where North Korean officials announced they would be undertaking a massive redevelopment program in 2014
The city has special meaning for North Koreans, including Kim Jong Un.
Despite the extreme hardships facing the North Korean people, most North Koreans who have been to Wonsan, including even defectors to South Korea, hold a high opinion of the idyllic bars and barbecues on the city's beaches.
According to distributed brochures about the city's development plan, the city's vicinity hosts numerous beaches, historical relics, and natural baths, as well as reportedly 680 tourist sites.
In addition to the extensive summertime activities, Wosan also has a ski resort nearby, giving visitors things to do all year round.
The facilities that already exist in Wonsan include water park, a bathing resort, as well as the Songdowon International Children's Camp.
The children's camp includes an aquarium, which Kim visited in 2014.
Wonsan's beaches serve another purpose — as staging grounds for military target practice and missile testing.
