In a whimsically ironic tale of the slopes, our fellow snow enthusiasts at Snowbrains have recently dropped a mountain of info about Kim Jong-Un’s quest to turn his gloriously extravagant yet utterly beleaguered ski resort, Masikryong, into a Siberian playground. The intriguing narrative, veiled in a frosty layer of sarcasm, is titled: Will Russians Flock to Kim Jong-Un’s Failing Ski Resort, Masikryong, North Korea?
Masikryong, a swanky $300 million marvel and North Korea’s only ski resort, came bundled with glitzy trimmings – ski lifts, restaurants, karaoke rooms, billiard tables, 120-room hotel and even a heli-pad. This Jong-Un creation has faced countless hurdles, from global resistance to UN laws prohibiting western countries from assisting in its development.
Freshly powdered with irony, Masikryong is a type of fortress, portraying a glossy North Korean facade that rudely ignores the stark realities of economic hardships inside its very borders. But is this all-powder and no substance facade enough to appeal to potential ski punters from Russia, who’ve been recently deprived of their preferred winter vacation spots due to their ongoing war with Ukraine?
Keen to slide this idea into reality, North Korea has released images through the KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) showing Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Russian far eastern region of Primorsky Krai and his associates ‘enjoying’ a five-day trip at the resort. One could rudely ask if Oleg and Co. honestly fancied the resort, or they were just there because they lost a bet.
While plans for new travel routes and promoting both adult and kid tours are being put on ice, Masikryong skiing spectacle needs about 5,000 skiers a day just to recover daily operating costs. Now that’s quite a mogul to maneuver.
This quirkily optimistic attempt to turn around Masikryong’s icy financial woes is a testament to Kim Jong-Un’s steely persistence. And let’s face it, in a world that’s wistfully growing steeper around us, who doesn’t love a good underdog tale, even if the protagonist happens to be a ski-challenged dictator?