North Korea opened its pyramid-shaped “Hotel of Doom” on Thursday, the anniversary of the Korean War armistice, after decades of delays to the project.
Walls that had surrounded the Ryugyong Hotel — called the Hotel of Doom because of all the setbacks and uncertainties — in Pyongyang were taken down and a red propaganda sign that read “Rocket Power Nation” was posted outside, Fox News reported. The 105-story structure is now the world’s tallest unoccupied building.
The unveiling came just one day before North Korea test-launched its second intercontinental ballistic missile, which went further than any other missile the nation has ever tested, Fox reported.
The hotel has been under construction since 1987, beginning during the reign of Kim Il Sung, the founder and “eternal president” of North Korea. For many years, though, North Korea dealt with economic collapse and famines that left no funds to keep building. Finally, Egypt’s Orascom Group stepped in to help complete the building’s exterior in 2011.
Work has been proceeding in earnest to finish the interior of the building since December 2016, but there is still no word about when the building will open to guests or even how finished the inside of the building is, Newsweek reported.
The building is one of a number of high rises and other projects that have been or are being constructed by current president Kim Jong Un, although it is unknown where the money to complete these projects is coming from.
Dozens of tall buildings reportedly opened in April, and a new international airport also opened as well as numerous educational and recreational facilities. North Korea would like to boost its tourism numbers to 1 million in 2017, from the usual 100,000 yearly visitors, The Telegraph reported.