A carefully famed picture of the apparently completed Masik Pass ski resort in North Koreas has been published in a state publication.
"An all-inclusive area for physical activity during the winter season has been prepared, where our people and youth may enjoy the benefits of Socialist civilization to their heart's content," said the caption.
Masik Pass was built at high speed through 2013 by the North Korean army and attracted global attention for the effort and money put in to its construction when many North Koreans are reported to live in poor conditions and in near starvation.
The credibility of the picture has been questioned by some observers who pointed out that the skier in the bottom left of the picture seems to be skiing very quickly for the flat terrain and to be out of proportion to the people standing to the right, who are dressed in Alpine skiwear but carrying cross country equipment.
Masik Pass is the pet-project of the 31 year old north Korean leader Kim Jong Un who's friend the former US basketball star Dennis Rodman is reported to have visited the ski area by helicopter yesterday.
Kim Jong un said the ski area was to be asia's largest, but so far Google earth images indicate it is not yet the largest on the Korean peninsular. It is so far unclear what lifts exist there following an international ban on selling ski lifts to the regime, but riot is believed at least one lift has been fabricated in North Korea – officials recently visited a ski industry trade show and the country already has one elderly chairlift operating at another area that was donated by Switzerland long before the current embargo.
Documents prepared by North Korean officials for potential foreign investors indicate North Korea hopes to make $43.75 million in annual profit from the resort and to attract up to 5,000 skiers per day.