April 19, 2024
News

As the world braces for a COVID-19 winter, North Korea gears up its ski resorts

Satellite imagery shows resorts and even a military ski base being covered with artificial snow

For the last few winters, select groups of North Korean students and workers hit the slopes of the country’s growing number of ski resorts, as did wealthier travelers and a small number of foreign tourists.

Now, satellite imagery shows that these resorts — and even a military ski training base in Samjiyon — are preparing for action this winter by laying down blankets of artificial snow. That’s despite North Korea’s ongoing economic woes and strict social measures meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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