North Korea has temporarily banned foreign tourists from its newly opened Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, despite earlier plans to welcome international visitors.

The seaside resort, launched on 1 July as part of Kim Jong Un’s tourism push, recently hosted Russian tourists and received praise from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his visit. Direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang are expected soon, BBC reported.

Spanning 4km of beachfront, the resort features hotels, restaurants, and a water park. However, rights groups have criticised alleged forced labour during its construction.

North Korea briefly reopened to foreign tourists earlier this year but halted visits without explanation, according to BBC.