It might look like a prison camp, but it's actually North Korea's first 'luxury' ski resort - and it's open for business

Much-anticipated Masikryong ski resort finally opened for business

'Luxury' 1,400-hectare site looks more like a prison than an upmarket resort

Features expansive, garish hotel and several eating areas

Skiers can enjoy 70miles of slopes while watching propaganda videos



North Korean leader visited site in December and called it 'impeccable'

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Welcome to North Korea's first 'luxury' ski resort - which actually looks a little more like a prison camp than the slopes Verbier.



The Masikryong ski resort, near Wonsan, opened for business earlier this year. Previously, it was home to a clear mountainside covered in lime trees.

Now it is a sprawling 1,400-hectare resort - complete with several expansive eating areas, uncomfortable-looking ski lifts and, of course, screens showing pro-government propaganda.

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This picture shows North Korea's first ever ski resort - which opened for business earlier this year. The Masikryong resort is set over a sprawling 1,400-hectare site and includes 70 miles (110km) of multi-level slopes

A group of nervous looking visitors squeeze on to a basic-looking ski lift at the 'luxury' resort

Hundreds of empty ski lifts service the abandoned slopes which were visited by Kim Jong-Un in December

Two happy ski-ers wave and smile at the camera as they make their way up to the top of the slopes A ski-less Kim Jong-Un surveys the snowy surroundings during his visit at the end of last year

Hundreds of snow canons are used to keep the resort's 110 kilometres (70 miles) of multi-level slopes looking their best.

Those visiting may wish to stay in the resort's elaborate hotel - which has a large swimming pool and a much more modest bar.



In pictures ta ken by Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet's Thomas Eriksson, ski-iers appear to be having a wonderful time on the Masikryong slopes - and wave and laugh at at camera.

The North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visited the Masikryong resort in December - testing out the lifts while surveying his surroundings.

He, however, appeared to forget one rather vital item - and was pictured with his ski-free legs dangling below as he made his way up the mountains.

Identically dressed ski-ers slalom in perfect unity towards the resort's hotel (pictured top centre)

A outbuilding at the resort - which features a hotel with swimming pool and bar as well as several industrial-looking eating areas

A line of piste workers holsing snow shovels and wearing their dark uniforms on their way to work

Snow canons, used to keep the resort operating at its very best, line one of the empty slopes

One of several screen dotted around the slopes which play propaganda to visitors

Another screen playing a propaganda film - which is rather ominously protected by tens of snow cannons

At the time, the leader was said to note 'with great satisfaction' that everything was 'impeccable'.

He also gave instructions to serve visitors to the site well - and ensure visitors may 'keenly feel the loving care of the party', local media reported.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) described the slopes as a 'great monumental structure in the era of Songun', referring to the nation's 'military first' policy.



The military also played a leading role in the project.



Kim was accompanied by top military leaders and, Pak Myong-Choi, a top sports official known to be associated with Kim's uncle who was executed last year.

A sign detailing how high each slope is stands in front of an empty ski lift

A orange-clad visitor skis down the mountainous slopes - which until a year ago were just home to lime trees

The imposing Masikryong resort hotel. The accommodation features a swimming pool and a modest bar

Visitors gather and eat at an improvised apres-ski barbecue area

Two holidaymakers walk through the lobby of the hotel and towards the reception

The expansive lobby is finished in a garish manner - with plenty of harsh lighting and imposing columns

Jang Song-Thaek, Kim's powerful political mentor, was put to death in a shock purge on charges including corruption and plotting to overthrow the state.

The purge was the biggest political upheaval since Kim, aged around 30, took power after the death of his father and longtime ruler, Kim Jong-Il, in December 2011.



The resort made headlines in August when Switzerland blocked a $7.6 million sale of ski lifts to Pyongyang, calling it a 'propaganda project' for the impoverished Stalinist regime.

The young leader has shown a fondness for expensive, high-profile leisure projects in and around the showpiece capital Pyongyang including a massive new water park, an amusement park and a luxury horseback riding club.

A waitress waits to greet visitors wishing to enjoy a drink at the resort's modest bar

The brown and beige - and empty - indoor dining room located in the hotel

The empty swimming pool of the hotel where guests may wish to relax after their hard day on the slopes

A resort worker patiently waits for customers to collect their ski boots, ready for a day on the slopes

A group make a visit to the ski rental area of the hotel

The Munsu Water Park in Pyongyang opened in October to much fanfare, with the 109,000-square metre venue sporting dozens of indoor and outdoor pools, water slides and saunas.

Kim in September also watched films at a new '4D' movie theatre built in the newly-renovated Rungna People's amusement park, state media reported earlier.

He was photographed riding a roller coaster in the Rungna amusement park in Pyongyang when it reopened in July 2012 after renovations ordered by Kim.