Seoul, South Korea — North Korea next week will open a signature coastal tourist site that it says will usher in a new era in its tourism industry, though there is no word on when the country will fully reopen to foreign visitors.

North Korea has completed construction of a massive "world-class" beach resort on its east coast and will open it to the public next week, state-run media reported Thursday.

North Korea will open a tourist site on its east coast next week that it called a prelude to a new era in its tourism industry, though there is no word on when the country will fully reopen to foreign