Fancy hitting the slopes at North Korea’s new ski resort?

AS much of the northern hemisphere is still in the throes of winter, anyone heading up to the chilly climes this time of year would be well set to head for a day of fun at the nearest ski resort. The good news is, there’s now one more for you to choose from – Kanggye, North Korea.

According to the Telegraph, the news was announced on the country’s Ryugyong website, which explained, in true North Korean style, that the project was completed ahead of schedule to reflect the “supreme will of the people.”

The majority of North Korea is mountains. Being one of the reasons they have struggled producing enough food for everyone in years past, also cold af. Everywhere we went that was flat was farms, they would extend to the base of the mountains until they got too steep. Imagine if we grew all our own foods with no imports/exports, no more bananas ?. At the statue it’s required to bring and leave flowers if you visit. #northkorea #dnk #masikryong #Pyongyang

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The project reportedly only took 10-months to complete and was built using entirely local materials to get around the tricky issue of UN sanctions preventing the regime from importing from overseas.

State-run DPRK Today said the ski area would feature two ski slopes and snow-making capabilities “so skiing would not be hindered if snow doesn’t fall in the winter.”

The ski area covers 12 acres with a 530-meter main slope, suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers. There’s also a 200m beginner slope, restaurants and accommodation.

Подъемники и бугельные и кресельные, для санок есть травелаторы) 9 трасс, одна из которых для новичков) самая длинная трасса около 5 км) подъем на самую верхнюю точку занимает около 50 минут на кресельном подъемнике. Зад, на удивление, не примерз, кресла теплые, но щеки и носы отморозили хорошо, на высоты был жуткий ветер)) #masikryong #dprk #кндр

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The latest resort is the second of its kind in the communist nation. It follows the much larger Masikryong resort which opened in 2013.

Masikryong was erected in record speed, taking less than a year to complete; a feature that earned it a spot in the public’s lexicon with the saying “Masikryong speed,” referring to anything built quickly.

Construction hit a snag, however, when developers were not allowed to import a chairlift from Switzerland due to trade sanctions. At the time, leader Kim Jong Un referred to the restriction as “a serious breach of human rights.” Instead it had to source a 30-year-old Austrian ski lift, sold to the North Korean resort by China.

on Apr 3, 2015 at 1:06am PDT

Despite the Supreme Leader’s enthusiasm for winter sports (he’s had many a photo-op riding the ski-lifts), it seems his citizens don’t share it – or just simply can’t afford to.

When professional freeride skier Sam Smoothy visited Masikryong back in 2016, he found the slopes empty with most visitors on the nursery slopes only just learning to ski.

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Source: travelwireasia.com