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

[FLBlake]

digital wire

news from AP and other sources
North Korea Resumes Construction of Luxury Hotel
May 19, 2008
Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0816 19 May 08


Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap

Shenyang, China, May 19 (Yonhap) - North Korea resumed the construction of a highrise hotel building in Pyongyang last month, which was suspended for nearly 20 years due to funding problems, informed sources here said Monday.

The construction of the luxury Ryugyong Hotel began in 1987 with French capital and technology for completion in 1992. The 105-story building has long been left uncompleted since early 1990s amid North Korea's chronic economic problems.

"North Korean authorities restarted the construction of Ryugyong Hotel in April," the sources said, quoting those who recently returned from trips to Pyongyang.

Orascom Telecom Holding of Egypt is North Korea's partner for the construction, the sources said. "If completed, the hotel will be used as an accommodation for foreign investors and visitors, a business centre and an international convention centre among others," a source said.

The 330-metre hotel is expected to be the world's tallest when completed.


(C) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved


On hold for 20 years?! Anyone have anything else on this, like maybe some renders?