North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and other officials inspect the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, Thursday. Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected the construction site of a tourist zone in the east coast region of Wonsan, state media reported Thursday, a move seen as aimed at nurturing the tourism industry amid international sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs.

Kim visited the site of the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area Tuesday, as the project has entered the final stage, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

At a meeting with officials convened at the scene, Kim also called for full preparations for the operation to ensure that the coastal tourist area could open by next May, it said.

The project began in 2014, with the aim of completing it by April 15, 2019, to mark the birthday of the country's late founder Kim Il-sung. However, due to material shortages caused by international sanctions and the outbreak of COVID-19, construction has reportedly been halted since 2020.

This photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency shows the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area, Thursday. Yonhap

During the visit, Kim touted the envisioned tourist zone as the best tourist attraction, saying that the site "can be proud in the eyes of the world," according to the KCNA.

He also stressed the need to boost tourism in a "long-term manner" on the basis of the experience gained in the construction of the coastal tourist area.

The North's leader has been focusing on developing major tourist spots, with Kim visiting the site of a major development project in the northern city of Samjiyon, near Mount Paektu, earlier this month.

Observers said North Korea seems to be fostering its tourism industry in a bid to earn much-needed foreign currency amid international sanctions and attract Russian tourists in this vein.

North Korea and Russia have been expanding the scope of cooperation following Russian President Vladimir Putin's first trip to the North in 24 years in June.

In regard to the Wonsan tourist zone, Seoul's unification ministry said North Korea apparently seeks to attract foreign tourists, given that it is constructing a high-end resort area at the site. (Yonhap)