In a show of over-the-top pomp and display that is typical of North Korea, the secretive state has unveiled a new water park in Pyongyang.

The Munsu Water Park in the East of the city is filled with colourful water slides, swimming pools and glass pyramids roofs similar to those at the Louvre in Paris.

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To mark the opening, a building dedication ceremony was held just outside the complex and attended by hundreds of people. The celebration which seemed more like a military parade than an opening ceremony included releasing helium balloons into the air.

From the images released by official state media, the Korean Central News Agency, there appears to be more people dressed in formal uniform inspecting the park than revellers actually enjoying themselves in the water. The park itself seems to be empty with a vacant car park and very few people on the rides.

Back in September photos emerged of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the site while it was still under construction. This latest project is yet another attempt to portray North Korea as a thriving nation rather than one struggling to feed its people, with a questionable record on human rights abuses.

Earlier this month North Korea was trying to speedily complete the Masik Pass ski resort in a secluded Eastern region of the country. The resort was supposed to have opened on the 10 October to coincide with the 68th anniversary of the formation of the Korean Workers Party.

However, the North Korean government has been silent on the matter and photographs from September show that the Masik Pass was far from finished. It was hoped that the ski resort would encourage its people to take up sports, including skiing, but a question still hangs over whether North Koreans would be able to afford to ski. Similarly, there is a question of whether citizens of the secretive nations will be able to afford to visit the Munsu Water Park.