North Korea is expanding facilities at the Masikryong Ski resort, one of Kim Jong Un’s marquee tourism-related construction projects, images exclusively obtained by NK Pro show.

The photos, taken in late September, reveal multiple new buildings under construction around 250 meters from the main hotel facility, at the base of what appears to be one of the site’s ski slopes.

The development appears to be relatively recent, with satellite imagery from Planet Labs suggesting that construction began earlier this year.

Extensive foundations for the construction of the tiered buildings first appeared in satellite imagery in March.

While the purpose of the new construction is as yet unconfirmed, the features of the building appear similar to established hotel accommodation at the resort.

North Korean authorities initially hoped the project would attract over 5000 guests per day, though initial tourist numbers were reportedly much lower.

A source that was present at the site but wished to remain anonymous due to sensitivities about sharing information said construction work was conducted both at day and extensively at night as well.

This would be consistent with work exceptionally long work hours observed in place at other major North Korean construction sites this year, including Samjiyon.

The source also indicated that, contrary to usual protocol, North Korean guides and minders did not make an effort to prevent photos being taken of the construction site.

The resort has been one of the leadership’s most prominent showcase construction projects since Kim Jong Un took power and is not without controversy. 

The Development Project planning document for Masikryong, obtained by NK News in 2013, revealed the total projected cost of constructing the resort to be in excess of 120 million euros (USD$150 million).

The figure at the time represented three-quarters of the cost of the UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) two-year DPRK operation, which, due to funding shortages, had been reduced to targeting 1.8 million North Koreans instead of the original target of 2.4 million.

Aid operations continue to be hampered by a lack of funding, with the total reported funding for NGO and humanitarian operations in the DPRK at USD$17.1 million, according to Reuters.

If it remains at that level, it would represent the lowest annual finding contribution in the last decade.

In-country groups have also reported that sanctions, imposed on the DPRK in response to its WMD program, are also hampering operations.

Despite increased warnings from NGOs and humanitarian organizations about the need for critical aid for North Korean citizens, the DPRK continues to expand its tourist-related infrastructure, possibly in anticipation for increased Chinese and possibly South Korea visitors amid a broader diplomatic détente this year.

Issues surrounding forced labor, child labor and the use of sanctioned equipment at the site also cast a shadow over what the DPRK tried to promote as a gift to its people.

North Korea has also embarked on an ambitious tourism-related construction project on its east coast, in the form of the Wonsan-Kalma tourist resort, which lies only around 20 kilometers from the Masikryong ski resort.

The resort, which includes over 170 new structures, was originally scheduled to be completed this year but the deadline was extended by Kim in August, with the leader saying sanctions had been the main impediment to progress.

The new deadline is set for October 2019.

Edited by Oliver Hotham

Images: NK Pro