PYONGYANG | Ryugyong Hotel - Reconstruction | 1,083 FT / 330 M | 105 FLOORS

[eburress]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheArtist

Until those last couple of pics, I was beginning to wonder if there were any people in the city.

Yeah, it looks eerily deserted in most photos I have seen.

[Roadcruiser1]

This video taken on April 30th, 2012 shows the Ryugyong Hotel and the streets of Pyongyang.

• Video Link

[jowens]

Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1

This video taken on April 30th, 2012 shows the Ryugyong Hotel and the streets of Pyongyang.

• Video Link

Fascinating video..........I followed the route on google maps.

[ThatOneGuy]

In my opinion, this is the most beautiful skyscraper in history, and not even the old WTC, my second favorite buildings, are close to its level. However, the country itself is a shame and a terrible place to live.

Also, that video's pretty cool.

[Guiltyspark]

Originally Posted by ThatOneGuy

In my opinion, this is the most beautiful skyscraper in history, and not even the old WTC, my second favorite buildings, are close to its level. However, the country itself is a shame and a terrible place to live.

Also, that video's pretty cool.

There is no accounting for taste I guess...

[toxteth o'grady]

All these pictures have triggered a long-burning question in my mind: how are these pictures getting out in a closed society that keeps out foreigners and restricts photographers?

[Roadcruiser1]

Originally Posted by toxteth o'grady

All these pictures have triggered a long-burning question in my mind: how are these pictures getting out in a closed society that keeps out foreigners and restricts photographers?

They don't. They allow tourism. The tourist however will be strictly monitored and watched. They are also not allowed to photograph or record some things, but usually they are allowed to take pictures and record videos of most things.

[NYC4Life]

If there's anything to envy about North Korea, it would be how clean (at least for Pyongyang) the streets are.

[MolsonExport]

^an utter lack of commerce has this beneficial side effect.

[The Pimp]

Wonderful videos. Someone has finally peeled back a little portion of the curtain. I really enjoyed seeing what the NK Govt doesn't want anyone to see. Normal NK life. Great job!

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1

This video taken on April 30th, 2012 shows the Ryugyong Hotel and the streets of Pyongyang.

• Video Link

Originally Posted by jowens

Fascinating video..........I followed the route on google maps.

Looks almost exactly like Northern Scarborough.

[Roadcruiser1]

These are the most recent pictures of the hotel. These were taken by Bruno Decorte on August 15, 2012. Credits belong to him.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27223472@N00/7864166132/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/27223472@N00/7864167754/

[ThatOneGuy]

The greatest day of this decade for this hotel - the first INTERIOR PHOTOS!!!!





http://www.nknews.org/2012/09/finall...-never-finish/

[CarlosV]

wow a la Logan's Run!!!!

one question, i don't know if anyone can answer it...why build such a huge hotel there? what's the appeal of this city???

[Downburst]

The interior looks like a map one would find on a multiplayer shooter, particularly Halo. That being said, looking up at the facade from the lobby is an impressive view.

Carlos, this is probably more of an (unsuccessful) attempt at status by the North Korean government than anything. When construction started, it would have been the tallest hotel in the world. All the more ironic that it was left incomplete for so long!

[Roadcruiser1]

I have spend some time reading history books and studying, and one day I stumbled upon the reason why North Korea even built the Ryugyong. The Ryugyong's construction started in the 1980's. At this time their neighbor China was introducing Capitalism into it's economy. North Korea was influenced a lot by China back then so they wanted Capitalism in their country. The Ryugyong Hotel would have been the star of their Capitalist economy. They wanted foreign businessmen and women to invest in the hotel, to build restaurants, and other things with relaxed oversight in the Ryugyong.

It was all going well until the Tianamen Square protests in the late 1980's. Then they got really fearful. This is the time that they closed up to Capitalism. They were scared of the threat to their rule. Afterwards they just closed their country. The country then went downhill after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has been in the dumps ever since.

[JHikka]

This is seriously one of the most impressive buildings in the world.

Originally Posted by CarlosV

wow a la Logan's Run!!!!

one question, i don't know if anyone can answer it...why build such a huge hotel there? what's the appeal of this city???

The appeal is just to have a massively large structure. The MayDay Stadium in North Korea is also the largest enclosed stadium in the world (in terms of capacity) at 150,000. It's also one of the better looking stadiums in the world, IMO.

[mrnyc]

stunning and awesome now that it finally has its facade on.

[ThatOneGuy]

The view upwards from the base is as spectacular as I had imagined.
I find it weird how my favourite skyscraper, and one of my favourite stadiums, are in North Korea.

[CarlosV]

Originally Posted by GregHickman

This is seriously one of the most impressive buildings in the world.



The appeal is just to have a massively large structure. The MayDay Stadium in North Korea is also the largest enclosed stadium in the world (in terms of capacity) at 150,000. It's also one of the better looking stadiums in the world, IMO.

damn, thanks man..this is the future!

http://weather.aol.com/2012/09/27/fi...n-hotel#page=1

The enormous hotel remains a source of fascination - and ridicule - for the outside world.