Huge North Korean Beach Resort 'nearing Completion'
Umer Jamshaid Published January 17, 2019 | 02:07 PM
A giant beach resort in North Korea is nearing completion, a US monitor said Thursday, with satellite pictures showing rapid progress on the sprawling development, now equipped with a water slide and cinema
Seoul, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2019 ) :A giant beach resort in North Korea is nearing completion, a US monitor said Thursday, with satellite pictures showing rapid progress on the sprawling development, now equipped with a water slide and cinema.
The seaside strip known as the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area is squeezed between a new airport and the country's east coast, in an area that has previously been used for artillery drills and ballistic missile launches.
It is intended as a centrepiece of the isolated country's nascent tourism industry as Pyongyang seeks to develop its economy despite international sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons programmes.
North Korea receives an estimated 100,000 foreign tourists a year, the vast majority of them Chinese, according to industry sources, but Pyongyang issues no official figures itself.
The site's construction has been closely overseen by leader Kim Jong Un and plans have been announced for a grand opening in October, when the country marks the 74th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
The respected 38 North website released satellite images taken as recently as December showing that most buildings previously under construction were "nearing external completion and several new or redesigned buildings were in advanced stages".
Kim, who reportedly spent his childhood summers in the area, visited the site at least three times last year according to state media, sometimes berating officials in charge of the works and issuing detailed orders.
Kim "found that the whole street was not perfect in the artistic aspect", the official KCNA news agency reported after his October inspection.
"He instructed officials to envisage the construction of more hotels and inns with over 30 floors," it added, along with more games arcades, movie theatres and an "all-event stadium", plus a "large water park and funfair".
Satellite photos from December 28 indicated the resort was growing into a "vast beach complex", 38 North said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
New attack as French PM vows crackdown on school violence
Firefighters battle Copenhagen blaze for third day as facade collapses
CM directs to prepare wheat purchase plan for next season
Participants of management course of WAPDA Administrative Staff College meet Gov ..
Team behind Italian film 'Io Capitano' returns to Senegal
Alleged kidnapper and molester of 3-year-old killed in Police shootout
Indian IT giant Infosys posts lower than expected revenue growth
DC Khanewal leads anti-dengue drive
CS Sindh chairs meeting to accelerate Sehwan development initiatives
UN chief warns Mideast on brink of 'full-scale regional conflict'
PML-N persistently advocates for engaging dialogue: Asif
Germany arrests two over military base attack plot for Russia
More Stories From World
-
New attack as French PM vows crackdown on school violence
30 minutes ago -
Firefighters battle Copenhagen blaze for third day as facade collapses
30 minutes ago -
Team behind Italian film 'Io Capitano' returns to Senegal
33 minutes ago -
Indian IT giant Infosys posts lower than expected revenue growth
33 minutes ago -
UN chief warns Mideast on brink of 'full-scale regional conflict'
33 minutes ago -
Germany arrests two over military base attack plot for Russia
33 minutes ago
-
Kenya military helicopter crashes with defence chief on board: police
43 minutes ago -
EU wants to make it easier for youths to move to and from UK
32 minutes ago -
Firefighters battle Copenhagen blaze for third day as facade collapses
2 hours ago -
Biden to receive Kennedy family backing against RFK threat
2 hours ago -
Jail terms sought for accused in $1.8 bn Malaysian fund fraud
2 hours ago -
Google fires 28 workers protesting contract with Israel
2 hours ago