By Chung Min-uck
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued an order to the military and citizens urging them to swiftly complete the ongoing construction of a ski resort within this year, the country’s state media reported Wednesday.
“The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) remains unchanged in its resolution to build a world-class skiing ground within this year and provide the people, school youth and children with highly civilized and happy living conditions that enable them to enjoy all blessings,” Kim was quoted as saying in the order made Tuesday and carried by the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
“It is the intention and resolution of the WPK to raise a hot-wind of great innovations and upswing throughout the country by letting all the people learn from the indomitable fighting spirit and work style being displayed by the soldiers in the construction of the skiing ground.”
The North is building a ski resort near the 768-meter-high Mt. Masik pass, or Masikryong, near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan. Previous reports said the country is moving to build an airport near the city as part of efforts to promote the area as a tourism-oriented region.
The communist nation currently has three ski resorts but they are not open to the public.
Observers say the move comes in line with the Kim regime’s policy line of seeking both economic construction and nuclear arms development since the beginning of this year.
In the order, the young leader further called on “all the people including workers, farmers and intellectuals to further re-energize all the economic sectors of the country and positively contribute to implementing national economy plan by fully implementing the WPK’s line on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force,” according to the KCNA.