A Probable New Hospital at Wonsan-Kalma Beach Resort
Commercial satellite imagery shows the Wonsan-Kalma Beach Resort likely has a new hospital.
Construction on the building began in July last year, although its purpose was not clear at that time. In recent weeks, however, a helipad has been constucted in front of the building, painted with a large “+” symbol.
An identical helipad with a large painted “+” symbol sits atop the Pyongyang General Hospital which opened in 2025, although North Korea is not known to have a medical helicopter service.
At Wonsan, the new probable hospital sits about 300 meters inside the resort, opposite a large parking lot used by coaches and the motor service center.
It appears to be the latest in a string of new hospitals being built in North Korea. In his speech at the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Jong Un said a “public health revolution” was underway in the country and called for new hospitals to be built across the country.
No other major construction appears to have taken place inside the resort over the winter months, but just south of the airport, work on a large railway station continues.
Workers are in the process of roofing the main station building and adding a canopy over the railway platforms. A footbridge connects the railway station’s five platforms.
As noted previously, the purpose of the station or rationale for its location is unclear. It would appear the station is intended to serve the resort, but the airport sits as an obstacle between the two areas.
Access to the resort from the station is imperfect, at least currently. One route runs through Kalma town and past the existing Kalma Station, which raises questions as to why that existing station was not just expanded; another route runs into the resort’s rear entrance, which appears to be the service entrance. The most direct route will take traffic across a lightly-used—but technically active—airport taxiway. This puzzle will likely become clear when the station opens.