A third ski area is reported to be under construction in North Korea.
Kanggye Ski Resort, located near Kanggye City in Chagang Province about 30 miles from the border with China, was described as ‘under construction’ by a North Korean internet news outlet.
The news agency quoted a Moon Chang Sik, reported to be in charge of the development, that the country’s leader Kim Jong Un had personally ordered the centre’s construction.
He said the ski area would cover 50 hectares and have two ski slopes complete with snowmaking (one for experienced skiers, one for beginners), served by a 530m long drag lift, a base building and a car park.
Images published by North Korean media indicate construction has not yet begun.
North Korea’s largest ski resort at Masikryong gained global attention when it opened for the 2013 – 14 season. Western media outlets have frequently derided the centre for its lack of paying guests in the years since, although most have been grudging complimentary of the better-than-anticipated quality of the facilities, sparking new questions as to how the North Korean regime sourced relatively high quality modern resort infrastructure under the sanctions regime.
North Korea had at least one small ski area operational prior to the construction of Masikryong, built during Kim Jong Un’s father Kim Jong-il’s dynasty. Begaebong ski area on Mount Paektu in Samjiyŏn County in Ryanggang Province, opened with a second-hand double chairlift donated by a Swiss ski resort prior to the sanctions regime and may still be operating.
