Inside North Korea’s new ski resort built to compete with ‘mischief’ of US
WITH its hated neighbour set to host the Winter Olympics, North Korea has unveiled a brand new ski resort of its own, revealed in new images.
Kim Jong-un addresses the PyeongChang Winter Olympics
The hermit kingdom debuted the 50,000m2 resort near the northern city of Kanggye on Sunday, concluding a 10-month building project.
Propaganda boasts that it has a 530m-long main slope and a 200m-long beginners’ slope, as well as restaurants and accomodation.
And if there is no snow, the facility can manufacture its own using a local water source, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper said.
Kim Jong-un described the project as a way to help his people enjoy “the best civilization at the highest level”.
North Korea debuted the 50,000m2 resort near the northern city of Kanggye on Sunday
The ski lifts at the new Kanggye resort were locally-built
The North’s existing Masikryong Ski Resort uses a 30-year-old Austrian ski lift sold on by the Chinese.
But the lifts at the new resort were locally-built, evading UN sanctions which stop luxury goods entering North Korea.
State-run propaganda outlet, Arirang Meari, called the homemade lifts a “response to the mischief of the US and its followers”.
Another report said the facilities were built at “Masikryong speed” - making reference to the rapid construction of the existing ski resort.
Kim Jong-un said the project help his people enjoy 'the best civilization at the highest level'
North Korea says the resort is now 'well equipped' for sleds, and beginner and intermediate skiers
While a report from last year said workers were spurred on by last July’s successful test of the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile.
The North says construction necessitated the moving of 60,000m³ of soil, and that the resort is now “well equipped” for sleds, and beginner and intermediate skiers.
These facilities, Kim Jong-un said, “contribute to building a socialist power with a healthy body” by encouraging citizens to undertake physical education.