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| ▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) and his daughter, Ju-ae, attend ceremonies to inaugurate the newly built Ikkal and Milyong hotels in Samjiyon, a northern city near Mount Paektu, on Dec. 20, 2025, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 23. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 23, 2025, shows Ikkal Hotel, one of five modern hotels newly built in Samjiyon, a northern city near Mount Paektu. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
N Korea-hotels
N. Korea's new hotels inaugurated in Samjiyon near peninsula's highest mountain
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has inaugurated five newly built hotels in Samjiyon, a northern city near the country's highest mountain, Mount Paektu, as its leader Kim Jong-un expressed an "unshakable" will to develop the area into an attractive mountainous tourist zone, state media reported Tuesday.
The North held ceremonies to officially open the new "modern" hotels in the Samjiyon Tourist Resort on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The North's leader has been pushing to turn Samjiyon into a major tourist designation as the country seeks to nurture tourism in an apparent bid to earn hard currency amid international sanctions.
While looking around major facilities at the Ikkal and Milyong hotels Saturday, Kim expressed his satisfaction that "all elements are at a high level" in terms of practicality, diversity and artistic features, according to the KCNA. His daughter, Ju-ae, also accompanied her father on the inauguration ceremonies, according to photos carried by state media.
"He expressed his unshakable will to turn Samjiyon City better into an innovative and highly civilized city representing the tourism culture of the country," the KCNA reported.
Kim also stressed the importance of the quality of service for developing tourism, calling for efforts to improve the professional qualifications of service workers at hotels.
North Korea has touted Samjiyon as the sacred birthplace of former leader Kim Jong-il, the late father of Kim Jong-un, though historians and foreign officials have said he was born in Russia.
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