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  #1  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 4:23 PM
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PYONGYANG | Ryugyong Hotel - Reconstruction | 1,083 FT / 330 M | 105 FLOORS

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?

Last edited by FLBlake; May 27, 2008 at 4:24 PM. Reason: Text Color
     
     
  #2  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 4:45 PM
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Well, that author should do some fact checking, Dubai's Rose Rotana is the world's tallest at the moment at 333m.

Their people are still starving, they spent god knows how much to build an a-bomb, yet here they are trying to finish the damn hotel.

Wikipedia also confirms that they restarted work on it.

Here is the hotel picture from wikipedia:
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  #3  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 4:52 PM
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I never thought I'd see the day. In a way, I'm going to miss seeing that massive, villainous looking frame looming over Pyongyang. It seemed to fit North Korea well.

How about some photos:









All photos from www.ryogyonghotel.com
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  #4  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 5:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BnaBreaker View Post
I never thought I'd see the day. In a way, I'm going to miss seeing that massive, villainous looking frame looming over Pyongyang. It seemed to fit North Korea well.
What makes you think that they would finish it this time?

As far as I know the structure is already beyond repair because of the bad quality of the concrete that they have used. Even if they managed to come up with a solution for this problem, I highly doubt that they have the financial power to finish it (especially considering the fact that they probably have to import the vast majority of the materials anyway, because they aren't available in NK.)

And we don't even have to debate that this money would be soooo much better invested otherwise in North Korea.
     
     
  #5  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 5:05 PM
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Wow.....i'm suprised. Then again, hopefully when Kim dies, things like these will start happening more frequently.
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  #6  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 5:15 PM
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How the hell are they going to do this with the concrete problem? This should be fun to watch (even though watching will be extremely limited).
     
     
  #7  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 6:18 PM
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Originally Posted by FLBlake View Post
The 105-story building has long been left uncompleted
I'm not even sure of the floor count.
It seems like less.
     
     
  #8  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 6:27 PM
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i counted 102.. not sure about the ground level area.... they should use it as a crazy movie set
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  #9  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 6:28 PM
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A skeleton exposed to the elements for almost 20 years. I would be afraid to live in such a building.
     
     
  #10  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 6:40 PM
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wasnt there a crazy rumor that a worker was just left in the crane after worked stopped??
     
     
  #11  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 7:54 PM
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wasnt there a crazy rumor that a worker was just left in the crane after worked stopped??

Probably just a cardboard cutout of a worker. Ya know, to boost moral.
     
     
  #12  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 9:00 PM
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There is a North Korean urban legend that a crane operator is holed up on top in the cabin, since she had promised to not get out until the hotel resumes construction/is complete (forgot which one). Wonder how this myth will play itself out.

edit: heh, I posted this right before I read the two posts above. Interesting.
     
     
  #13  
Old Posted May 27, 2008, 10:58 PM
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Cool myth. I would be scared of being there too. I think it would just be better to make a giant amusement park around the building. And a roller coaster going up the big pointy part. I saw a photo from the top of the building and everything is empty, empty, empty.

If they finish it congrats! If they don't then it's good too. I like seeing this building unfinished for some reason. Like a giant haunted house or what skyscrapers will look like one all the nuclear bombs go off everywhere on earth.
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  #14  
Old Posted May 28, 2008, 12:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by R@ptor View Post
What makes you think that they would finish it this time?
Actually, I kind of doubt that they will. And like you said, it's basically beyond repair at this point.
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  #15  
Old Posted May 28, 2008, 5:07 AM
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I am not convinced the building is anything more than a shell. I have heard it is not only beyond repair (on top of poorly designed and bad materials), but is not feasible as a structure (as in, and this is an example (NOT REALITY), there are not pipes reaching the top, enough elevator shafts, etc.)

We will see, but I am not too optimistic.
     
     
  #16  
Old Posted May 28, 2008, 4:42 PM
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I more expected news of demolition than reconstruction.
Lets just hope the end result is safe.
     
     
  #17  
Old Posted May 28, 2008, 5:27 PM
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Even completed, this would still be a hideous evil-looking eyesore. They should demo it and start over on a smaller scale.

My recollection is that the structure was being airbrushed out of city photos, doesn't appear on maps and was to be completely ignored when speaking to foreign visitors. Furthermore, reports were that it was poorly constructed, and 20 years of decay can't have helped matters. My guess is that, to save face, the government will announce a "new and improved" design (probably taller), demolish the current work with great fanfare, and then quietly leave the site empty. They really just want to get rid of this embarrassment.
     
     
  #18  
Old Posted May 28, 2008, 5:34 PM
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I'm surprised to see this thing actually going again. Even when it's finished, I wouldn't let my pet buzzard stay there.
     
     
  #19  
Old Posted May 28, 2008, 5:41 PM
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That is just crazy. I really dont know what to think about the design. Kind of like something out of a Godzilla movie. Maybe he lives there, he he...
     
     
  #20  
Old Posted May 28, 2008, 5:49 PM
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What I want to know is who's rushing to rent a room in North Korea (?). I mean what business do they expect to generate, and from where? They won't get it from their own people, let alone the rest of world, who they go out of their way to isolate. I never understood to logic of this.
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