South Korea’s Donga Ilbo media outlet reported that Kim Yong Choi, a top aide to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, had suggested the US help finance a plan for a casino in a proposed international tourist destination in the Wonsan-Kalma coastal region.
The proposal comes as the two countries are trying to establish a framework for discussion of North Korea’s nuclear plans at the June 12 summit in Singapore. Kim Yong Choi visited the White House on Monday, during which he reportedly floated the casino investment idea.
Kim Jong-un first proposed the tourist-friendly zone in his New Year’s address to residents of the Hermit Kingdom and was filmed touring the construction operations last month. The plan is for the tourist zone to finish construction by April 15, 2019, the birthday of Kim’s grandfather Kim Il Sung.
The country reportedly hopes the project, which could include a ski resort and other non-gaming amenities, will eventually generate annual revenue of US$50 million for the government.
North Korea has a few small-scale casinos that operate in tourist-only hotels, including one in the capital Pyongyang and another in Rason on the Chinese border. In March 2017, North Korea attempted to drum up international investors’ interest in a floating casino project and announced plans to authorize real-money wagering on horse races last October.
Source: GMB / Calvin Ayre
