Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Kim Jong Un Expands State-Sanctioned Leisure to Tighten Economic Control
Kim Jong Un is building more places where people in North Korea can shop, eat and have fun.
These include malls, coffee shops, resorts, waterparks and game arcades.
North Korea is importing equipment such as treadmills, pianos and bumper cars for these activities.
Experts say the government wants people to spend money in official businesses instead of informal markets.
This could give the government more control over commerce and create new income.
New attractions have opened or are being built in Pyongyang, Wonsan, Samjiyon and Rason.
More than 300,000 people reportedly visited the Wonsan resort during the latter half of 2025.
However, poorer residents may have little access to the new facilities.
Analysts say greater consumption may reduce frustration for now, but it cannot guarantee loyalty forever.
North Korea is expanding luxury malls, coffee bars, waterparks, resorts, restaurants and entertainment venues for domestic consumers.
Chinese customs data show imports of massage equipment rose 40-fold and treadmill shipments increased more than 600% over the past decade.
New developments include the Wonsan Kalma beach resort, five Samjiyon hotels, a nearby ski resort and regional leisure complexes.
Analysts say Kim Jong Un is directing private spending into state-controlled networks to weaken informal markets and generate revenue.
The consumption boom is uneven, with some residents unable to afford the venues and others distrusting government-linked electronic payments.
- Who
- Kim Jong Un and the North Korean government are expanding state-controlled leisure and retail facilities for domestic consumers.
- What
- North Korea is promoting domestic consumption through luxury malls, resorts, restaurants, entertainment venues and imported leisure equipment.
- When
- The expansion has accelerated since 2022; the Wonsan Kalma resort opened in summer 2025, and five Samjiyon hotels opened in December.
- Where
- The developments are concentrated in Pyongyang and are also appearing in Wonsan, Samjiyon and Rason.
- Why
- Analysts say the policy is intended to direct private spending into official economic networks, compete with informal markets and support domestic growth.
Economic Stimulus and Greater Leisure
State Control and Unequal Access
Purpose of the consumption drive
Economic Stimulus and Greater Leisure
Analysts say new leisure and retail venues can absorb household savings, reduce frustration, stimulate domestic demand and support economic growth.
State Control and Unequal Access
Other analysts say the venues channel commerce into official networks, allow scrutiny of spending and help the government weaken informal markets.
Access to new amenities
Economic Stimulus and Greater Leisure
Visitors and state media describe expanded access to malls, resorts, restaurants, waterparks and entertainment facilities, including the heavily visited Wonsan Kalma resort.
State Control and Unequal Access
A former Pyongyang driver said people like him had little access to many new restaurants and leisure facilities, suggesting the benefits are uneven.
Long-term political effect
Economic Stimulus and Greater Leisure
Greater consumption may give residents more opportunities to spend money and enjoy leisure, helping reduce dissatisfaction in the short term.
State Control and Unequal Access
Professor Ruediger Frank said consumption may only buy time and cannot guarantee loyalty forever; analysts also said stronger domestic finances could reduce incentives for sanctions relief or renewed nuclear negotiations.
- Economic growth
- South Korea’s central bank said North Korea’s economy grew 3.5% in 2025, its third consecutive year of growth above 3%.
- Wonsan visitors
- More than 300,000 domestic visitors reportedly attended the Wonsan Kalma resort during the latter half of 2025.
- Massage-equipment imports
- North Korean imports of massage equipment from China increased 40-fold over the past decade.
- Treadmill shipments
- Shipments of treadmills increased by more than 600% over the past decade.
- Bumper-car imports
- North Korea imported more than three metric tons of bumper cars from China between January 2025 and July of the reported year, worth more than $20,000.
- Electronic payments
- A 2023 law required every bank and store in North Korea to accept electronic payments.
- Leisure complexes
- At least two dozen complexes containing facilities such as libraries, restaurants and movie theaters were completed or under construction, according to state media.
