PYONGYANG - North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has called for the building of a world-class beach resort in the eastern port city of Wonsan, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Saturday (May 26).

Wonsan, facing the Sea of Japan, is known locally for its beach scenery.

Kim inspected a construction site at the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area, China's Xinhua news agency quoted KCNA saying.

"It is the determination of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) to wonderfully build the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area as a Korean-style coast city ... to make our people enjoy the highest civilisation at the highest level," Kim was quoted as saying.

The WPK said in a plenary session last month that North Korea would concentrate on economic construction to improve the lives of North Koreans.