Simon Cockerell of Beijing-based tour company, Koryo Tours, took these images after being invited to the newest ski resort in North Korea.
courtesy koryo tours
Setbacks —
The resort suffered setbacks including difficulty importing ski lifts. Austrian and French companies declined to sell lifts to the regime, while the Swiss government blocked a potential sale from a Swiss company. The lifts currently in place were made in China.
courtesy koryo tours
Luxury hotel —
The hotel is "very fancy and comfortable, has 120 rooms in two buildings and is dotted with so many bars and cafes that a crawl around them all would take days in itself!" wrote Cockerell.
courtesy koryo tours
Courting controversy —
The expensive building project has predictably been the subject of much scrutiny and criticism overseas, with most North Koreans living in poverty.
courtesy koryo tours
11 runs —
The resort has 11 runs including two beginner slopes. Instructors and tour guides are available.
courtesy koryo tours
Local hotspot —
"The number of local Korean skiers here was also a great surprise, considering that prior to a fortnight ago there was just one ski slope in the country," wrote Cockerell.
courtesy koryo tours
Surprising encounters —
On the inspection visit, the Koryo Tours group encountered Dennis Rodman, who was visiting after his controversial basketball match in Pyongyang.
courtesy koryo tours
Visitor information —
The resort's entrance fee has not yet been fixed, but Cockerell estimates that it will probably soon be set at around €30 ($41) a day without rentals, which will cost around another €12 ($16).
courtesy koryo tours
Would you go? —
Foreign visitors cannot just call and book the hotel, but must be part of a tour group package via companies such as Koryo.
