The recent report of Mr. Kim at the hydroelectric station in Wonsan, for example, showed Mr. Kim looking at a painting of the complex.

WSJ: Gulags, Nukes and a Water Slide: Citizen Spies Lift North Korea's Veil

For some North Koreans, the most exotic vacation possible is closer to home -- the coastal town of Wonsan, about 200 kilometers to the east of the capital.

CNN: Behind the veil: A rare look at life in North Korea