This building is seriously alive again? For what purpose?

It's my understanding that all they're doing is cladding the sides and completing the facade. I haven't been able to get any information on whether or not they're even renovating the building for use. They really only have two options at the point, either demolish the building or at least make it look better.

It seems so strange to have an active, updating thread on this building. After all these years.

Yeah it does, keener.

May day
 

Photo lifted from militaryphotos.net - it was uncredited there.

What a strange sight.

Why are they celebrating with a fireworks display before it's even finished?

Oh well. North Korea probably isn't going to be repressive forever. Its influence has come from China and China is liberalizing. South Korea is ultimately its second biggest influence and South Korea is Western. Kim Jong Il won't live forever and I doubt whoever his successor is will think repressive government is best for the country.

In 20 years, other skyscrapers are going to be going up on either side of this.

Your profound grasp of N Korea's politics is awe inspiring.

They're celebrating May Day.

This thread desperately needs more posts about the political situation in North Korea. Way too much talk about irrelevant architecture and "skyscrapers" lately.

^So what? Jeez, they're covering an ugly building with blue glass, there's nothing to say when it comes to architecture. What do YOU wanna say about "skyscrapers" in reference to this building?

When they're building a skyscraper in NYC everyone talks about the economy, the building's finances, the availablity of tenants. Those are notable aspects of a major enterprise, such as a skyscraper, in a capitalist system. This building is being built in Korea in a centrally-planned economy as a show of government power, so we talk about politics and government because that is the whole story behind it.

Do you usually go up to random strangers in verbal conversations saying, "sorry, but I find your chitchat to be insubstantial and off-topic."

What a beautiful, picturesque place - absolutely gorgeous!!


(heavy sarcasm)

early spring is a bad time for scenic photos. It looks like that here, too. In a couple weeks it will be nicer.

It seems like they've slowed. Although i've noticed scaffolding on the lower peaks of the tower.

hmm, i liked it better before the glass, how weird is that?:koko:

The glass gives it a whole new sinister aspect :yes: :haha:

Why is it that Pyongyang seems to have such dirty air? Do they have alot of industry in that area? I

Actually, they gray/brown is a perfect combination of colors for a communist utopia.

Wow have not seen this in a while. Hmm glass, well i dont know what to think of it. I am curious to see how it will turn out in the end. Will it be lit up at night. Only time will tell, will keep my eye on this one...

Aww, what th' hey! Them fireworks're killer!!!

This building, and that country, are incredibly intriguing. I wonder if their borders will open up in our lifetime so that we can really see what goes on there?

I thought the concrete was crumbling on this thin, no way in hell I would ever stay there (that is if I somehow ended up in N. Korea, lol).

When their borders open up, what's going on there now won't still be going on there.

^Unless your a reporter or journalist...

Tourism is NKs biggest money maker...They Just don't allow Americans or South Koreans.


As a British man I am allowed to North Korea and know people who have been there.

Really? I couldn't tell at all!

(heavier sarcasm)

:banana:

Are Canadians alowed?

From may 31st

Wow, that rendering looks like it came straight out of a 1980's sci-fi movie. Hopefully the base doesn't look so crappy. The building itself is okay.

Funny isn't it. They have money to build a skyscraper...but then they turn around and blackmail the west into giving them food and fuel.

That thing really looks like it belongs in Vegas.


WAIT! If Pyongyang was transformed into the Vegas/Monaco of Asia, could that help solve the chronic poverty in North Korea? Is gambling even legal there?

That's exactly what I was thinking. . . although I'm not fond of the design in general, as a novelty building it has its merits. . .

. . .

I prefered it without all that cheap glass clading.
Before, it looked like the Ministry of Truth, now it just looks like one of these generic Dubaï skyscrapers.

Asia already has its Vegas. :frog:

also, i believe macao is now bigger than vegas! (in terms of $$$ and number of casinos).

I personally wouldn't trust the construction quality of that building. It's a wonder it's withstood the weather for so long. I just feel like with North Korea being such a backwards and poor country, many many corners may be cut in the construction.

^I dunno. . . it's lasted this long without any consideration of the weather, so anything they'd be doing now would only improve on that no?

How does anyone really know its "lasted"? I mean, whos the last structural engineer you know whos gone in there to report his findings?

^It's still standing. . . so as far as I can tell without being there, it's "lasted" just the same. . .

Lots of progress on this one. The cladding of the top portion looks better than I had expected.
Fresh pictures posted by vincenand on SSC:

http://www.korea-dpr.com/forum/wp-co...ize_resize.JPG

http://www.korea-dpr.com/forum/wp-co...ize_resize.JPG

http://www.korea-dpr.com/forum/wp-co...ize_resize.JPG

I have always thought that the ryugyong hotel is one of the coolest looking buildings on earth, if not the coolest. Seriously.

Are they going to clad around the edges too?

How come we never see the back side? Are there 3 wings or just 2?

On Google Earth you can see it has 3 Wings;)

Wow, this one looks absolutely awesome, in a frighting way. :)

I found this satellite image and thought there were only two, until I looked closely at the shadow.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=pyongy...13754&t=h&z=17

Yup, 3. I thought this was just a given that everyone understood?

It's almost contextual, mimicking the even pyramidal mountains on the backdrop.

It looks like we may finally soon see that birds nest removed.:yuck:

Latest update:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/...3c2a964b_b.jpg