North Korea 105-story hotel may finally open
Source: Agencies |
November 2, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE 105-story, pyramid-shaped hotel that has stood over North Korea's capital like a mountain for more than 20 years just might be on the verge of opening for the first time.
Pyongyang's Ryugyong Hotel will "partially, probably" open in the middle of next year, Reto Wittwer, CEO of international hotel operator Kempinski AG, said yesterday at a forum in Seoul.
Kempinski will manage the hotel, which Wittwer said will open with shops, offices, ballrooms, restaurants and 150 rooms.
The hotel has been a source of fascination for the outside world, and an embarrassment for the country.
North Korea began building the hotel in the 1980s but stopped when funds ran out in the 1990s. Exterior construction resumed in 2009. Witwer said Egypt's Orascom Telecom is funding the construction.
There have been various reports in recent years that the hotel was preparing to finally open. In September, a Beijing-based tour agency was allowed to peek inside and released pictures of the bare concrete lobby.
Pyongyang's Ryugyong Hotel will "partially, probably" open in the middle of next year, Reto Wittwer, CEO of international hotel operator Kempinski AG, said yesterday at a forum in Seoul.
Kempinski will manage the hotel, which Wittwer said will open with shops, offices, ballrooms, restaurants and 150 rooms.
The hotel has been a source of fascination for the outside world, and an embarrassment for the country.
North Korea began building the hotel in the 1980s but stopped when funds ran out in the 1990s. Exterior construction resumed in 2009. Witwer said Egypt's Orascom Telecom is funding the construction.
There have been various reports in recent years that the hotel was preparing to finally open. In September, a Beijing-based tour agency was allowed to peek inside and released pictures of the bare concrete lobby.
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