North Korea's Ryugyong 'Hotel Of Doom'; World's Tallest Hotel 'Possibly' Opening Next Year
North Korea has had some lofty goals, but they may be nearing the end of completing one of them.
The infamous Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang may open for business next year.
According to the Bangkok Post, the news was announced in Seoul on Thursday by Reto Wittwer, CEO of international hotel operator Kempinski AG, who said the Ryugyong Hotel will "partially, probably" open in the middle of next year.
The Ryugyong Hotel, known also by its more aptly-named title the "Hotel of Doom," will be the world's tallest hotel. The building shaped like a giant pyramid stands tall and shiny around the capital of Pyongyang. However, while the outside might look impressive, the inside shows its true nature.
At 105 stories tall and sporting 3,000 rooms, the building has taken over 25 years in the making. Recent images from within, on the other hand, show vast emptiness that looks like it's nowhere near completion.
The pictures taken by Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based travel company, show a barren interior with a lack of everything required not just for a working hotel but for an inhabitable building.
Production on the North Korean hotel began back in 1987 in order to show the world how prosperous the poverty stricken country had become, but instead it has reinforced the image of the struggling dictatorship. Much of the delays to the project were due to massive famine that struck the country in the 1990's and work didn't continue again until 2008. The exterior of the hotel was dated to be finished in 2010 and the interior wasn't expected to be done until this year at the earliest.
Google+ users are already giving out satirical reviews from fake vacations to the North Korean "Hotel of Doom."
Michael O'Grady said of the hotel: "The Kimchi was just so-so and the restaurants are hit or miss (depending on when the last shipment [sic] of UN food aid came. The rooms are a bit barren (luxury and comfort are opiates of the bourgeoise [sic]) but with all the excitement on campus, you hardly notice. Remember to tip your government handlers though, trust me on this."
Jonathan Lynch had an alternate review: "Appreciated the blindfolded escort to my room on the 81st floor. My state-appointed translator was careful not to stab me in the calf with the bayonet [sic] on his rifle. Breakfast was fine, but the all-gruel buffet was bleh. Would stay again."
