Yes you can get in, but you can't call the country "open". Not everyone can get in easily (or out for some), and even when you get in you can't go where you wan't. You only get to see what they want you to see.

Im sure its not that hard to understand what anyone means with 'closed for outsiders'... but yeah you are RIGHT!

Nonsense, as long as you are not a jounalist everyone can get easy access. The North Korean part of our trip (also russia, mongolia and china) was the easiest of all. You can't arrange it yourself. Just book at an agency, fill in the visaform (nothing else then other country, even a copy of you photo was enough, where do they accept that!!), pay and go....
In the plane, just some standard forms, at the airport, my luggage only went through a scanner (not searched by hand in my case). The only different part is that in the country you have limited freedom of movement, eating, sleeping etc. Camera ristrictions as they told us, bullfshit. Have seen the biggest camera's you can imagine. Some people did even bring in their mobiles, while it is not allowed. I didn't take the riks. Unfortunately my camera had limited zoom, so couldnt get the "hotel" closer.
They do go through your entire camera and erase pics which are not allowed (with a smile), but that is simple to get around. Just change your memorycard and stick one in your camera with "legal" pics. One guy had bad luck. He downloaded his photo's to an external harddisk, which they found. They erased the whole thing. It was the most relaxing part of our total trip.

And of course I don't support the regime, and poorness is a bad thing, but plz people, then also don't go to africa, don't go to poor asian countries, even in Europe there is lot of corruption and poverty....Don't blame NK for everthing...

But hey, not many can say they have seen this special building with their own eyes :-)

Stevesteve, thanks for everything you've provided, but your post is odd.

You start by calling Betelgeuze's post nonsense, then agree with what he said!

Betelgeuse "you can't go where you wan't. You only get to see what they want you to see."
Stevesteve "The only different part is that in the country you have limited freedom of movement, eating, sleeping etc"
That is "not being able to go where you want"!

Betelgeuse "Not everyone can get in easily"
Stevesteve "as long as you are not a journalist"
That is "not everyone"!

Stevesteve "Camera ristrictions as they told us, bullfshit. Have seen the biggest camera's you can imagine"
Stevesteve "They erased the whole thing"
That is a "contradiction" and a restriction!

What's the point of this? We want close up construction pictures of the Ryugyong Hotel!
But we can't get any, due to "blame NK for everything?"........I do!

I Stumbledupon this today...how much of this is true? lol

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/A48PGO/www.pixlmonster.com/hanguk/kimjong/

^^ The REAL question is ... how much has that to do with the subject of this thread?

Nothing, as usual. I miss Zaruka's posts

Lots of that stuff isn't true, for one there's actually a few parties in North Korea (Though all part of the same 'reunification of the fatherland' united front), and I bet most of the Kim Jong Il stuff is just rumour and exagerration. The propaganda thing about him not pooping or weeing is obvious rubbish - North Korean propagandists might be zany, but they're not retarded.

But none has anything to do with this building.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1021/5185852288_2cec20f554_o.jpg

October 13

http://www.flickr.com/photos/olve/5185852288/

Here's some more, pictures taken only 4 days ago!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5175116380_f03fd08170_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5175087822_64c167de80_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5184065907_2c480dda3a_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjputallaz/

Two of the three corners finished!

More pictures, closer please!

Doesn't look cold yet in Pyongyang. I thought all the leaves would be off the trees by now in that location.

^^ The REAL question is ... how much has that to do with the subject of this thread?

Nothing, but this thread has been in a constant loop of waiting for more information on a building that receives very little updates (perhaps because of some of the issues expressed in the poster). At least I'm looking for information and confirmation on the location of this project instead of being a bigoted fool and assuming that a communist nation is the root of all evil like some people. Now that I know more, I can look at the project under different light.

On the topic of the building itself, looking good! :)

One thing for sure -- those are some impressive new Flickr photos there, from non-touristy locations (places that the tour groups don't normally visit, such as the Koryo tours group, or instead, one of the China tour groups). There's some "What the hell is that?" for those who's never seen Ryugyong in there.

There's something more fun than this Skyscrapercity thread:
1. Go to www.flickr.com
2. Search "Ryugyong" (be careful of spelling)

There's hundreds more photos there. They've almost all been linked one way or another in posts, but definitely especially keep a regular eye on this search keyword on that site. Not everyone wants to flip through 100 pages, anyway. We need more people watching flickr and then coming back to post photos that haven't showed up previously.

Believe it or not! New photos get posted by random tourists now and then... Only a few tourists take good photos like these recent ones, though.

I wonder who will that hotel host :S?

I wonder who will that hotel host :S?
Why not? I'd go there:)

I'd bite your hand off to stay in a completed Ryugyong.

north korea gets over a thousand tourists a year, i'm sure once this is complete, this is where they would stay. and seriously, for everyone ragging on north korea for being a repressive nation that has a total disregard for human life, you should google this place called 'america'.

Why not? I'd go there:)

Double that! :okay:

Double that! :okay:
Yeah, me too!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5175116380_f03fd08170_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjputallaz/

^^Any information concerning the base of the tower? It seems, nothing is going on there. :(

There is no real information on anything. Only distant photos and speculation. My opinion is that Orascom agreed to clad the tower, not finish the base. Hopefully the DPRK has enough knowledge to do the low parts on their own without totally scewing it up.

I have to admit that it is an amazing building. Never though it could be like that when it was on hold and without cladding

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1021/5185852288_2cec20f554_o.jpg

October 13

http://www.flickr.com/photos/olve/5185852288/

who says that pyongyang looks terrible? i dont get that impression from various pictures taken recently

Why does North Korea need a so massive Hotel?

I don't wanna piss off, just asking. :)

GLASS MONUMENT FOR COMMUNISM "ACHIEVEMENTS"

There is no real information on anything. Only distant photos and speculation. My opinion is that Orascom agreed to clad the tower, not finish the base. Hopefully the DPRK has enough knowledge to do the low parts on their own without totally scewing it up.

So it's just a postcard building?

What about inner tourism? People from other cities (towns) will come... And... I am sure the state will let delagates of party forums or some other events to stay there...

Why does North Korea need a so massive Hotel?

I don't wanna piss off, just asking. :)
This thread has become so long and repetitive that people keep asking the same questions again and again, making it even longer and more repetitive. :ohno:

The Ryugyong was originally built as a propaganda showpiece -- a South Korean company had built the world's tallest hotel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryugyong_Hotel#Background), so North Korea wanted to build a taller one.

I have to say it does look like something is missing off the top though - and I don't mean the crane! It does need some kind of spire, aerial or something.

Regards the aesthetics I think I actually quite like it, it's certainly a unique shape although it does seem to be mostly if not entirely for show. They'd better do something with the base area though!

Derek

who says that pyongyang looks terrible? i dont get that impression from various pictures taken recently

The devil smiles in your face and than stabs you in the back...thats why

With the so called "war" that could break out between North & South, I hope this place doesnt get affected.

^^ It has today

With the so called "war" that could break out...

What do you mean by that? There already is (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_war) a war, and there has been for the past 60 years.
Moreover, I do not see how this could affect the construction of this hotel. Or Seoul should start dropping bombs on Pyongyang...

Soon there will be a nuclear crater so enjoy the photos.

Why am I not surprised that people use the latest news to once again 'tard up this thread?

GLASS MONUMENT FOR COMMUNISM "ACHIEVEMENTS"

To be fair, the skyscrapers of the Western World are monuments to capitalism, which has proven in the past few years that it is not fair or stable at all.

What do you mean by that? There already is (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_war) a war, and there has been for the past 60 years.
์Now this is another war.
60 years age this was a US-USSR war
Now this is a US-China war.

north korea gets over a thousand tourists a year, i'm sure once this is complete, this is where they would stay. and seriously, for everyone ragging on north korea for being a repressive nation that has a total disregard for human life, you should google this place called 'america'.

a thousand tourists a year? thats 3 per day ... not sure you need a 105 storey hotel for that.

who says that pyongyang looks terrible? i dont get that impression from various pictures taken recently

It's supposed to be North Korea's showcase city and it's a privilege for a North Korean to live there.

Looks close to being finished and ready for take off.:)

tis is actually a damn nice building-possibly one of my favourites

a thousand tourists a year? thats 3 per day ... not sure you need a 105 storey hotel for that.Reminder -- this isn't a 100% pure hotel like originally intended anymore. Sources, including BBC and Orascom, have mentioned it is a multi-purpose building involving hotel, offices, residences, and revolving restaurants.

a thousand tourists a year? thats 3 per day ... not sure you need a 105 storey hotel for that.

well for starters, tourists stay for 5-7 nights, not one. and i didn't say the whole thing would be reserved for tourists. i assume tourists would stay here because i'm pretty sure this is the most extravagant building in north korea.

Fact is hundreds of thousands of North Koreans will probably come very close to starving to death this winter....meanwhile the "Government" forms the view that funding this disgusting monstrosity should take precedence over feeding the poor.

Rant over.

As to the building it's horrible and has no asthetic merit at all.

Fact is hundreds of thousands of North Koreans will probably come very close to starving to death this winter....meanwhile the "Government" forms the view that funding this disgusting monstrosity should take precedence over feeding the poor.

Rant over.

As to the building it's horrible and has no asthetic merit at all.

Excellent.

To be fair, the skyscrapers of the Western World are monuments to capitalism, which has proven in the past few years that it is not fair or stable at all.

Rubbish. People vote with their feet and they vote for capitalism. The Berlin Wall wasn't designed to keep westerners out, it was designed to keep in the slaves who powered the anti-capitalist Eastern Bloc.

Tell the poor wretches in anti-capitalist North Korea that western capitalism is unfair. And tell them that they should feel good about that monstrosity of a hotel when they have neither freedom or hope.

Yep, the economic model adopted by 99% of the world's most prosperous countries is not fair or stable. :rofl:

If it were fair or stable, it would bring more equality. If anything capitalism means more separation between people. I believe money hurts a lot more people than it brings happiness to, and the reason our Governments like it so much is because they're among the few who are truly happy with it. You've just got to look at the economic clusterf*ck of recent years to see that capitalism isn't sustainable, but people seem to forget any lessons learned from these disasters quickly.

Fact is hundreds of thousands of North Koreans will probably come very close to starving to death this winter....meanwhile the "Government" forms the view that funding this disgusting monstrosity should take precedence over feeding the poor.

Rant over.

As to the building it's horrible and has no asthetic merit at all.

The sad truth. I don't think the DPRK needs a building like this, I don't know why they're funding this if no one but Chinese businessmen go to DRPK

If it were fair or stable, it would bring more equality. If anything capitalism means more separation between people. I believe money hurts a lot more people than it brings happiness to, and the reason our Governments like it so much is because they're among the few who are truly happy with it. You've just got to look at the economic clusterf*ck of recent years to see that capitalism isn't sustainable, but people seem to forget any lessons learned from these disasters quickly.

Equality is boring. Who wants a world where everyone has the same amount of money, the same amount of success? Not everyone is supposed to be happy.

When people forget the lessons learned from economic disasters, they fail. Or at least they should, just like the bailed-out banks should have. Then, new people or companies will come along who will not make those same mistakes.

well for starters, tourists stay for 5-7 nights, not one. and i didn't say the whole thing would be reserved for tourists. i assume tourists would stay here because i'm pretty sure this is the most extravagant building in north korea.

Oh right for all those dignitaries...staying...at...wait never mind.

If it were fair or stable, it would bring more equality. If anything capitalism means more separation between people. I believe money hurts a lot more people than it brings happiness to, and the reason our Governments like it so much is because they're among the few who are truly happy with it. You've just got to look at the economic clusterf*ck of recent years to see that capitalism isn't sustainable, but people seem to forget any lessons learned from these disasters quickly.

More equality? Do you understand the concept of the middle class in capitalistic societies? The self-made people. The people who are independent of government and aren't reliant on it. Freedom is all that matters. And freedom is messy. Not everyone is the same. We all have the same political rights but that's not the same as equality of outcome.

You're obviously the type who believes that the enrichment of one person requires the impoverishment of another. So let's just rob Peter to pay Paul. You end up with a world of legalised violence committed by the state to enforce equality of income.

You end up with North Korea. You end up with hell on earth.

Capitalism is the system that most closely resembles our intuitions as living things. As such it is unavoidable and should be encouraged. But it not fair. To pretend it is is to deceive yourself.

As to the Ryugyong, it is a significant building precisely because of where and how it has been built. Whether you like it or not there have been a completely different set of priorities in creating Ryugyong and it stands apart from nearly every building of modern times because of this.

Capitalism is the system that most closely resembles our intuitions as living things. As such it is unavoidable and should be encouraged. But it not fair. To pretend it is is to deceive yourself.

Capitalism is the fairest system ever invented because it allows every person to rise to the level of the own ability and reap the rewards. It also allows each person to be charitable as they see fit, without obligation. Thus it encourages true friendship between individuals and nations. The anti-capitalist regimes, the regimes based upon the notion of "fairness", are the ones the practise legalised theft and thrive on class conflict as people seek to get ahead not on their own merits, but on the basis of political favors.

As to the Ryugyong, it is a significant building precisely because of where and how it has been built. Whether you like it or not there have been a completely different set of priorities in creating Ryugyong and it stands apart from nearly every building of modern times because of this.

That statement could mean almost anything, therefore it's meaningless.

This topic should be closed, really.

It has been explained 100 times in this topic that Orascom is funding this project and that it is a multi purpose building. And there are still people showing up to derail this topic with their baseless claims and political views. Thanks for fucking it up!

This topic should be closed, really.

Agreed. And maybe the people derailing it time and again should be brigged for a while...or only allowed to post in the Skybar...;)

This topic should be closed, really.

It has been explained 100 times in this topic that Orascom is funding this project and that it is a multi purpose building. And there are still people showing up to derail this topic with their baseless claims and political views. Thanks for fucking it up!

This and many others threads in supetalls.

Or ban to certain users.

This topic should be closed, really.

It has been explained 100 times in this topic that Orascom is funding this project and that it is a multi purpose building. And there are still people showing up to derail this topic with their baseless claims and political views. Thanks for fucking it up!

You got the point man! I agree with you!

No need to close threads or ban users, just remove inappropriate posts that will lead to these discussions. This building is really taking a long time to complete. I hope to see at least the cladding done sometime soon. As for the interior, I'm not too fussed

Politics are all well, but it should be put in a separate part of the Internet. Or even nearby: Create a separate section of the forum website called "Supertall Politics". Everything that remotely mentions capitalism, communism, socialism, marxism, monarchy, diplomacy, puppetry, military, or anything remotely political sounding, gets promptly moved to that forum (even automatically, after 3 or 4 votes on a "This is Political" button next to the post.)

Equality is boring. Who wants a world where everyone has the same amount of money, the same amount of success? Not everyone is supposed to be happy.

When people forget the lessons learned from economic disasters, they fail. Or at least they should, just like the bailed-out banks should have. Then, new people or companies will come along who will not make those same mistakes.

More equality? Do you understand the concept of the middle class in capitalistic societies? The self-made people. The people who are independent of government and aren't reliant on it. Freedom is all that matters. And freedom is messy. Not everyone is the same. We all have the same political rights but that's not the same as equality of outcome.

You're obviously the type who believes that the enrichment of one person requires the impoverishment of another. So let's just rob Peter to pay Paul. You end up with a world of legalised violence committed by the state to enforce equality of income.

You end up with North Korea. You end up with hell on earth.

Capitalism is the fairest system ever invented because it allows every person to rise to the level of the own ability and reap the rewards. It also allows each person to be charitable as they see fit, without obligation. Thus it encourages true friendship between individuals and nations. The anti-capitalist regimes, the regimes based upon the notion of "fairness", are the ones the practise legalised theft and thrive on class conflict as people seek to get ahead not on their own merits, but on the basis of political favors.

If you guys do want to continue this discussion somewhere it should probably be moved to a skybar or something. I'd be more than happy to continue the discussion because I find it interesting and already wrote out points for these posts and how the argument that 'everyone gets a fair chance' is basically BS (Are you saying I've had the same chance as the Prince of Wales? Or Bill Gates' kids? It promotes the idea that no matter how smart you are or how nice a person you are, if you aren't born into at least some money your chances of fulfilling your full potential are slim, at best). I had points for all of these posts before I noticed the problem we were causing. Then when the next update arrives there isn't pages and pages of talk about the pros and cons of capitalism. If you guys want to keep talking, create a thread somewhere and post the link here.

I would like to clear one thing up though as it's directed at someone who thinks they know what type of person I 'obviously' am.

You're obviously the type who believes that the enrichment of one person requires the impoverishment of another. So let's just rob Peter to pay Paul. You end up with a world of legalised violence committed by the state to enforce equality of income.

You end up with North Korea. You end up with hell on earth.

No. Your view of politics and economics are just so narrow that you're unable to grasp any concept that isn't either Capitalism or a form of communism with complete Government control.

Reminder -- this isn't a 100% pure hotel like originally intended anymore. Sources, including BBC and Orascom, have mentioned it is a multi-purpose building involving hotel, offices, residences, and revolving restaurants.

I don't want to start another conflict, but I don't think there can be any offices or residences in the Ryugyong Building. Only hotel rooms (from the podium straight up to the restaurant levels) and several revolving restaurants. Unless someone is willing to allow some condo-hotel units on a third of the building. Also, if I were to count the floors of the building, it must have lower than 105 floors.

Politics aside, this building is heinous. Even with the class cladding, it looks like some supervillain HQ.

I don't want to start another conflict, but I don't think there can be any offices or residences in the Ryugyong Building. Only hotel rooms (from the podium straight up to the restaurant levels) and several revolving restaurants. Unless someone is willing to allow some condo-hotel units on a third of the building. Also, if I were to count the floors of the building, it must have lower than 105 floors.Why can't Ryugyong be used for offices and residences?

Debate specifically on this topic would be welcome, and drown out politics talk.
I'd like to hear some arguments or a source for what you said.

...Don't say "layout". In some countries, boring hotel hallway layouts are often used as offices and residences. It's DPRK, after all...
...Don't say "room size". For example, Japan has many apartment towers with residences smaller than New York City hotel rooms. And even if they wanted bigger residences, rooms can also be interconnected with the addition of doorway between two adjacent rooms. (Construction companies can do structural checks before cutting a 2-foot hole in a structural wall, they can determine optmium locations that won't affect the building structurally, the loads are often focussed at specific points of the wall, not evenly distributed along the entire wall.)
...Don't say "facilities". Extra electricals and plumbing can be added vertically to the mechanical floors; look at the gigantic mechanical floorplans added by Orascom that wasn't part DPRK's original building plan -- enough mechanical floor room for cooling/electrical/water/sewage capacity to compensate for extra heating/power/use/etc caused by addition of kitchens/copiers/computers/office equipment to rooms that were formerly only going to be used as hotel rooms. Big retrofit like that sort of upgrade have been succesful, there's precedent.

Other technical arguments about the supertall, please?
We can drown out the politics and focus on supertall nitpicks and technicalities, as skyscraper enthusiasts.

Oh right for all those dignitaries...staying...at...wait never mind.

well one would probably assume that there are north korean dignitaries. and as others have mentioned, the whole structure isn't going to be a hotel. but my original point was that once this building is habitable, i think this is where tourists would stay, because north korea goes to great lengths to impress visitors.

also, can a mod please ban 'nuwanda'? his bantering might be more tolerable if he grasped a true understanding of politics...

also, can a mod please ban 'nuwanda'? his bantering might be more tolerable if he grasped a true understanding of politics...

Just because you don't agree with what he has to say, doesn't mean he doesn't have an understanding of politics. In fact, he seems to have a better grasp of the world than most of the communist dolts in this thread. If you ban him, ban all the political commentators in this thread and stop being such a biased jackass. :)

Does anyone think this building would be cool for a James Bond villain's HQ? Or maybe Batman's new lair.

the most beautiful building the world has ever seen.

LONG LIVE KIM JONG!! he leads us to world dominance!!:)

LONG LIVE KIM JONG!! he leads us to world dominance!!:)

If he's doing a good job, then how come South Korea is one of the richest countries in the world, while North Korea is one of the poorest countries in the world? How could he let this happen?

If he's doing a good job, then how come South Korea is one of the richest countries in the world, while North Korea is one of the poorest countries in the world? How could he let this happen?

Wrong place. Here is about buildings. :bash:
Use skybar.

Reminder -- this isn't a 100% pure hotel like originally intended anymore. Sources, including BBC and Orascom, have mentioned it is a multi-purpose building involving hotel, offices, residences, and revolving restaurants.

yes, but at that rate, you only need 1 hotel room....

Here's some more, pictures taken only 4 days ago!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5175116380_f03fd08170_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5175087822_64c167de80_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5184065907_2c480dda3a_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjputallaz/
^^
OMG... they finished the facade!!! wonderful, i love that skyscraper!... i hope to be there someday.

^^
OMG... they finished the facade!!! wonderful, i love that skyscraper!... i hope to be there someday.

WOW! Unbelivable Miracle,North korea!

I'm trying to guess how many lives have gone for making this King Kong Il's wet dream

awsome. Finaly fisished cladding. Now it looks amazing!

Yep, the economic model adopted by 99% of the world's most prosperous countries is not fair or stable. :rofl:

it is for sure not stable and not fare mostly. but nothing better is invented atm.

the buidling itself looks inspiring and fascinates me. with cladding it looks so much better. this bulding is more impressive than most of London or Moscow skyscrapers by far, btw. and yes, it is supertall.

I hope the Great leader will find a way how to use it. and I hope after he will die the NK could become more open step by step and join SK gradually with no harm to anybody but big gain for everybody.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5175116380_f03fd08170_b.jpg


Two functioning trolleybuses in one shot! So no electricity problems on that particular day, unless these two are stopped in their tracks (or, more accurately, stopped in their wires). But I highly doubt that because you can see a couple of passengers out the rear window of the red trolleybus.

The green one on the left looks like something from the 1950s. Hard to believe those are still running.

That yellow sign means that there's a pedestrian crosswalk ahead, but I can't see any zebra stripes on the pavement. There is a pedestrian who appears to be jaywalking across this six-lane avenue. Is that tolerable in a police state?

What is also interesting about this shot is that the platform in front of the hotel is still raw concrete. It hasn't been glassed up or anything. Which suggests that the priority was how this building would look from afar, in the skyline, instead of up close, where few would see it.

Two functioning trolleybuses in one shot! So no electricity problems on that particular day, unless these two are stopped in their tracks (or, more accurately, stopped in their wires). But I highly doubt that because you can see a couple of passengers out the rear window of the red trolleybus.

The green one on the left looks like something from the 1950s. Hard to believe those are still running.

That yellow sign means that there's a pedestrian crosswalk ahead, but I can't see any zebra stripes on the pavement. There is a pedestrian who appears to be jaywalking across this six-lane avenue. Is that tolerable in a police state?

What is also interesting about this shot is that the platform in front of the hotel is still raw concrete. It hasn't been glassed up or anything. Which suggests that the priority was how this building would look from afar, in the skyline, instead of up close, where few would see it.

The subway and tram systems always run in Pyongyang. The electric shortage is more evident at night, when all of the homes use low wattage bulbs and few streetlights are lit.

Yeah, they probably still use the old Soviet designs. If it still functions, it's still used, especially considering that North Korea is economically isolated.

It probably is tolerable, since there is very little traffic. I don't even think they need to draw zebra stripes for pedestrians, as the streets are almost always empty.

They appear to be working on it (notice the crane below). It would be nice if they let tourists a little bit closer to the tower for some closer pictures.

this thing looks like ass

Just because you don't agree with what he has to say, doesn't mean he doesn't have an understanding of politics. In fact, he seems to have a better grasp of the world than most of the communist dolts in this thread. If you ban him, ban all the political commentators in this thread and stop being such a biased jackass.

Thanks.

Yes, ban nuwanda!

Oops, that's me!

My goal was to point out that it's a nasty amoral trait to divorce the appreciation of a building from its intended purpose. I mean, would you attempt to appreciate the industrial efficiency of Auschwitz without regard to its intended function?

Sorry, now I'm being too philosophical!

That yellow sign means that there's a pedestrian crosswalk ahead, but I can't see any zebra stripes on the pavement.
In Pyongyang there are pedestrian underpasses at junctions, which is probably what the crosswalk sign is referring to. Of course, they're unnecessary given the low level of traffic, but so are six lane highways. However, building underpasses is logical based on the amount of traffic that a six lane road would theoretically be carrying. Pyongyang was almost entirely destroyed during the Korean War, and the North Korean authorities rebuilt it as a model socialist city in the expectation of a prosperous future.

In Pyongyang there are pedestrian underpasses at junctions, which is probably what the crosswalk sign is referring to.
I doubt it's sign for underpass. This is sign for approaching pedestrian crossing, sign for underpass is blue and rectangle-shaped.

They appear to be working on it (notice the crane below). It would be nice if they let tourists a little bit closer to the tower for some closer pictures.They are slowly starting to. At least a few, got right up to the construction fence. (There are several pictures posted a few pages ago)

I did not see any close up pictures> (right up to the construction fence) !Please repost them if you can!

Yeah, they probably still use the old Soviet designs. If it still functions, it's still used, especially considering that North Korea is economically isolated.


Old Soviet designes are still used in Russia too, but not because of economical isolation or poverty. Some new designs are often much worse in quality - they literally fall apart just after the first ride.

I did not see any close up pictures> (right up to the construction fence) !Please repost them if you can!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4907588351_8abf17f885_b.jpg

location: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/4907588351/sizes/l/in/set-72157624761048352/

dated August 16, 2010

Go directly to flickr site for hi-res photo to take a closer look at the slaves.

Politics aside, this building is heinous. Even with the class cladding, it looks like some supervillain HQ.

Kim Jong-Il is the supervillain and he is the one that is making his civilians build this

Two functioning trolleybuses in one shot! So no electricity problems on that particular day, unless these two are stopped in their tracks (or, more accurately, stopped in their wires). But I highly doubt that because you can see a couple of passengers out the rear window of the red trolleybus.

The green one on the left looks like something from the 1950s. Hard to believe those are still running.

That yellow sign means that there's a pedestrian crosswalk ahead, but I can't see any zebra stripes on the pavement. There is a pedestrian who appears to be jaywalking across this six-lane avenue. Is that tolerable in a police state?

What is also interesting about this shot is that the platform in front of the hotel is still raw concrete. It hasn't been glassed up or anything. Which suggests that the priority was how this building would look from afar, in the skyline, instead of up close, where few would see it.

stfu, jesus.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4907588351_8abf17f885_b.jpg

location: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/4907588351/sizes/l/in/set-72157624761048352/That's one of them. I've seen several others.

Guys, I've been reading every single page of this thread -- page 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,
24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,
64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,
102,103,104, and page 105... Then on some of those not posted, search the same flickr usernames of the better photos posted,
they often have other pictures on flickr not posted here. There is a couple of foreign hobby photographing enthusiast that routinely
gets permission to get this close.

EXAMPLE -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/4908159934/in/set-72157624761048352/
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4908159934_a088868300_b.jpg

...and several others!...
There are closeup photos on flickr already, that's right up to the premises if you search carefully. SkyScraperCity ain't the center of the Internet...
The favourite photographer is zaruka, he's taken many great photos.

stfu, jesus.

what the fuck is your problem, you piece of shit douchebag???

^^ Would like to see that on a Hallmark card.

^^ Would like to see that on a Hallmark card.

:lol:

I'm glad for North Korea that they can finish this. They are nice people and U.S media paints the entire country out to be evil. I had no idea this was being finished so this is a nice surprise.

^^ Do you even know what you're talking about? ( Seeing how slow you are, I don't think you do. )

what the fuck is your problem, you piece of shit douchebag???

Why do you think that North Korea has literally no electricity at all?

Why are you surprised that its public transit system operates?

Why do you think a jaywalker is...what, going to be arrested immediately and sent to the concentration camps?

NB, that platform has been built entirely in the last couple of years. I imagine they'll get around to finishing it once they've finished with the tower.

Google world shows there has been work on the platform. http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=39.036345,125.731595&spn=0.005567,0.009055&t=h&z=17
And those blue roofs again! (And there appear to be very large houses with gardens directly east of the Ryugyong. Inner Party member residences?)

I have been asking to go to the construction site for the last two visits and this time I got to go. I may ask again in September to get an update. It is hard to get good photos due to weather but next year I am bringing better lenses and will try to get closer. My dream is to go inside. If the restaurant opens inside I intend to go. I cannot get back until after July 2011 but the 16 day September tour is what I intend to do. I will report on activity.
Yes, it was quite a rush to pull up to the site. I have other photos from 2008 and 2009 of the building. They seem more open about it now.
Thanks for the looks. - Ray

I'm glad for North Korea that they can finish this. They are nice people and U.S media paints the entire country out to be evil.
No, just their government. There's a big difference between a country's government and its people. Everyone here recognizes that people are pretty much the same in every country.

Good progress all around the building. From Google Earth:

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8219/rhnowthen.gif

The newer image is almost a year old now.

(And there appear to be very large houses with gardens directly east of the Ryugyong. Inner Party member residences?)

No, of course not.

Those are pachinko parlors.

Everyone knows that.

Why do you think that North Korea has literally no electricity at all?

Why are you surprised that its public transit system operates?
Just to add to that, Pyongyang is, a showpiece city designed to impress visiting foreigners and, just as importantly, the place where the North Korean élite live and work, so the régime makes sure that the city's infrastructure works as well as possible under the circumstances. In fact, the government has recently revised the Pyongyang City Management Law (http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/11/30/new-pyongyang-management-law-aims-at-modernization/), which defines how the city is run and what resources must be provided:
Article 17 stipulates that “the construction of housing must completely guaranteed,” and Article 51 states that planning for and production of commercial goods for Pyongyang must be ensured “without fail.” Housing, goods, electricity, capital and other necessities for the modernization of Pyongyang have now been essentially legally guaranteed. New housing in the capital has been a priority for the North, with construction already underway and plans for 30,000 additional units next year and 35,000 more in 2012. In order to show off these new renovations day and night, Article 27 calls for the “logical installation of street lights” to brighten walkways, roads, and national monuments. The new legal revision appears to be yet another step toward shoring up the framework for establishment of a ‘Strong and Prosperous Nation’ and transition of power to yet a third generation of Kims.

I'm glad for North Korea that they can finish this. They are nice people and U.S media paints the entire country out to be evil. I had no idea this was being finished so this is a nice surprise.

Oh really? I had no idea you were a resident of North Korea. :nuts:

<soapbox>Woonsocket54 and diz, stop that. *Both* of you clearly went against SkyScraperCity forum rules.
Other people are already clicking the http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/buttons/report.gif (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/buttons/report.gif) button under your name, trying to get you banned already. So settle down & focus on the useful discussions. Now back to your regular program. Skyscraper talk please. Thank you. This public notice reminds everyone they have the power to alert the owners of this website of problem posts, using one click.</soapbox>

Woonsocket54, your original post (before diz) is still more interesting than the boring politics, and did not deserve jiz' reply, but your subsequent reaction does not belong either, IMHO. (And if jiz must disagree, forum etiquette clearly shows that mediadave's question-based response is more appropriate than jiz's response, if you had to pick one of the two.)

*switching to immediate sidetrack mode -- trying to get thread back on topic*

--> Swiddle, excellent observation & photo mashup. Keep them coming.
--> mediadave, good link used by Swiddle to produce the animated gif.
--> Zaruka, excellent photos on flickr -- they are among the best & most educational architecture imagery.
--> Everyone, let's continue to compliment other posters (and photographers!) that work hard to post photos.

This section of the forum is not for political or economic debate. Go make a thread in the Skybar if you want to discuss those issues.

This thread was created for discussion and opinions about the Ryugyong Hotel, and nothing else.

I agree with Mark. Please stay on the topic that this thread was created for folks.

Thanks.

It's difficult to part the politics from the skyscraper when it comes to this profoundly perplexing Potemkin pyramid, whose raison d'être appears to be to make a pretentious polemical political proclamation.

Here's some more, pictures taken only 4 days ago!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5175116380_f03fd08170_b.jpg


What an amazing and unique tower! Why can't you admire the brilliance of this building and leave the politics to the governments?

I guess everyone is a political analyst these days :lol:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f0e_1190803294

A good video about life in Pyongyang. The average apartment is 150 square meters... which is quite a size. So likely much of this new building will be dedicated to apartments as US maintains so called "sanctions" against the DPRK and there won't be a lot of tourists until they are lifted.

Also there is very much vituperation and anti-DPRK propoganda on this thread. I will not get greatly off subject, but suffice it to say there are many starving people in the so called "united states"... even main politicians in the democratic party admit this to be a fact, so stop the provocations against the DPRK.

EDIT: Is it possible to embed videos here? I would like to embed the video about life in Pyongyang for viewing here.

Oh really? I had no idea you were a resident of North Korea. :nuts:


Nor I :nuts: . Do I need to to form an opinion of a country? Cuba is really nice as well.

Nor I :nuts: . Do I need to to form an opinion of a country? Cuba is really nice as well.

According to this thread it appears you have to be to have any valid opinion, Andrew ;) Or American. But shhhhhhh.

^I knew that was going to occur in this thread. You are in trouble, sir.

the most ugly tower I've ever seen

^^ Much more cool than the Stalin-Big Benlike tower in Makkah.

Finally finished! Congratulations.

Very nice skyscraper! Are they going to finish the bottom part?

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f0e_1190803294

A good video about life in Pyongyang. The average apartment is 150 square meters... which is quite a size. So likely much of this new building will be dedicated to apartments as US maintains so called "sanctions" against the DPRK and there won't be a lot of tourists until they are lifted.

Also there is very much vituperation and anti-DPRK propoganda on this thread. I will not get greatly off subject, but suffice it to say there are many starving people in the so called "united states"... even main politicians in the democratic party admit this to be a fact, so stop the provocations against the DPRK.

EDIT: Is it possible to embed videos here? I would like to embed the video about life in Pyongyang for viewing here.

Thanks for the link, I got many laughs from the other related videos on that site> but if you really are a friend of the DPRK, then you can FOCUS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS TOWER (Which is being completed by an Egyptian company) and explain to us the Juche philosophy behind letting a foreign company do your construction. Juche does mean independent and self-reliant, doesn't it! So this means the construction should have been started and completed without outside help. Interesting.

Holy crap, this building actually looks awesome.

Very nice skyscraper! Are they going to finish the bottom part?
The bottom is the newest part of the structure... So, I say 2030? Not Serious!


Holy crap, this building actually looks awesome.
Yes, It does! I wonder If it would have look the same 20 years ago if finished then...

^^ Much more cool than the Stalin-Big Benlike tower in Makkah.

:nono:

I thought the bottom sections had been there all along, just had no roofs (or collapsed roofs) and Orascom finished them up.

the most ugly tower I've ever seen

what???? for the year it was started(and mostly build), it is awesome... then again that's only my opinion

Yes, It does! I wonder If it would have look the same 20 years ago if finished then...

It looks exactly like the original 'renders/concept'

Yes, It does! I wonder If it would have look the same 20 years ago if finished then...

It looks exactly like the original 'renders/concept'

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2862020257_d6b3c5ee86_o.jpg

very good photos.

Only need finish interior and how will be the podium ?

It's difficult to part the politics from the skyscraper when it comes to this profoundly perplexing Potemkin pyramid, whose raison d'être appears to be to make a pretentious polemical political proclamation.

No is not, is very easy actually .... but of course your prime reason to have registered in this forum has to be skyscrapers and not some others.

fu#$% democracy..this is beautiful

It looks exactly like the original 'renders/concept'
That illustration was produced by Orascom. We don't know whether it's the same as the original design from the 1980s.

No is not, is very easy actually .... but of course your prime reason to have registered in this forum has to be skyscrapers and not some others.

ok, I'm so sorry about what I wrote a month ago.

I love this tower! Much better than that monument to capitalist imperialism they're building down in Incheon.

It's difficult to part the politics from the skyscraper when it comes to this profoundly perplexing Potemkin pyramid, whose raison d'être appears to be to make a pretentious polemical political proclamation.

OnceBittenTwiceShy, is that you? What's this about Djibouti?

More pics?

this tower is so pretty! :)

http://www.high-rise.architectureandplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/30-Ryugyong-Hotel-Pyongyang-North-Korea-330m-105F-2012.jpg

check it out, it's comeing on REALLY well

http://www.high-rise.architectureandplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/30-Ryugyong-Hotel-Pyongyang-North-Korea-330m-105F-2012.jpg

check it out, it's comeing on REALLY well

Old pic.

Wow! It looks amazing!
Looks like some space weapon, though. Let's hope it will scare away those three giants spaceships that are heading for the Earth :D

Best retro-futuristic building. Looks amazing.

S.K will boom it :(

It looks exactly like the original 'renders/concept'

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2862020257_d6b3c5ee86_o.jpg

are you in nokor? did you take that picture yourself?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhpR7AcLdLc

A Beautiful skyscraper once it finished.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5175116380_f03fd08170_b.jpg


Damn, that cladding makes the building look so much more badass. :okay:

Very elegant and classy.

Very elegant and classy.

Go Ryugyong, go!


... oops, wrong thread :D

It looks okay, I guess. This type of buildings are rare right now due to the fact that it requires a lot of space. Then again, the government owns all the land so they can do whatever they want.

Will they finish the podium?

Has the Ministry of Love moved in yet?

you wonder whats going on inside...

To answer what's going on inside, all we need is a night picture with lights on...

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:sigh: The spammers are back in force. Anyway, the building looks interesting but makes me wonder how long it would take to finish it. You can definitely say this project is a way for the "Great Leader" to show that his country is able to so tall buildings as well. You can say that it is at the expense of the people.

This looks more kinda cool everytime I look at it

The most elegant and classy building in North Korean :)

Looks like something out of Tron! :D

It really is turning out nicely!

Orascom does good work.

Looks like the headquarter of an evil company or a dark empire - and it really is in a dark empire!

It's been a long time coming, but it does really look very cool.

Very curious what they will actually use it for?

Really cool and unique tower. Pity none of us will get to take our own pictures of it. :[

Looks like the headquarter of an evil company or a dark empire - and it really is in a dark empire!

I was thinking the same thing. This building makes me scared !!!!!

Are you people so easily scared?

Has the Ministry of Love moved in yet?

:lol:

just got done reading that book again! hahahahaha

N.Korea is about to host an golf tournement at a 900 dollar buy in. Rumour has that the 'great leader' had about eleven hole in ones at his firt try in golfing :D

You are way off topic, and you're gonna get banned...

I would love to see some winter pictures of the construction site. How much activity is indoors now that the cladding is 99% complete?

^^Nobody knows. With pictures coming once in a while, it is hard for us to access what the progress of the construction is. Besides, I am sure tourists there would have "special escorts" following them all the time.

As far as I know, it is only forbidden to take pictures of the military, so aside from the fact that little people go there, taking pictures shouldn't be a problem.

^^I guess so. It is still quite rare to get photos of the hotel. The pictures usually comes out once in a while. Just hoping a member of the forum gets there and takes some pictures. :)

This building is scary man

Actually, I think they'd encourage people to take pictures of the building...
however, I doubt they'd allow them to go inside...

They don't allow pictures of anything that might be embarassing, or sensitive. But I agree with you totally phoenixboi! You would think they would be posting pictures here THEMSELVES! Or allowing Orascom to show some...

^^I know what you mean. I mean they even have a twitter account and a website. Can't they use those avenues to showcase this project of theirs?

I like it. It reminds me of futuristic building renders from romantic sixties.

^^I know what you mean. I mean they even have a twitter account and a website. Can't they use those avenues to showcase this project of theirs?

North Korea is actually following me on twitter (I'm one of the lucky dozen) but they never responded to my DM's regarding this building...they've only replied with a few questions I had about getting a visa.

They don't allow pictures of anything that might be embarassing, or sensitive. But I agree with you totally phoenixboi! You would think they would be posting pictures here THEMSELVES! Or allowing Orascom to show some...
The North Korean authorities will probably declare the Ryugyong complete in 2012, which will be the centenary of Kim Il Sung's birth and is expected to be a year of major celebrations. Once the building is deemed to be complete, they'll start releasing propaganda about it, which will of course declare that it was developed entirely "by our own efforts" and ignore the involvement of Orascom and any other foreign companies that helped to build it.

Promoting the Ryugyong before it's finished would just draw attention to how long it has taken to build, which as you say would be a very embarrassing and ideologically sensitive issue. I've read that, before Orascom came along, the Ryugyong was airbrushed out of official photos of Pyongyang and tour guides did not talk about it at all. Since it seemed that the tower would remain an unfinished hulk forever, the régime tried to ignore it and act as if it did not exist.

^^That would be a huge possibility. In North Korea, time move at a different rate as determined by the Great Leader. :nuts: Anyway, it makes you wonder whether it will be used as a hotel when it is completed.

I really want to like the architecture here, but it seems like something that would have been built in Japan in the early 80s.

I know this is a skyscraper forum, and not a political one, but you cannot in good conscience separate this tower from the millions of people starving to death so the government can afford to complete it (amongst other things).

When it is done we will probably see an outpour of content related to this building.

Anyway, I hope tourists will be able to stay there when it opens, I imagine it would have impressive views of the city.

If tourists can (eventually) go into the building, I would love to see someone poke around in the basement levels to see if they had to reinforce anything, or if they just left it alone.

Me likes! Go North Korea!!

This is a magnificent Tower!! :applause: and it is coming out quite good :cheers:


For those who are not blinded by Political non-sense and truly admire the great architecture this building posses :cheers1: here are a few words of encouragement towards those who hate.

4NwouN_KigY

so so

there goes half the national budget :lol:

there goes half the national budget :lol:

hahahah

But it is an impresive building.

Anyway, it makes you wonder whether it will be used as a hotel when it is completed.Not pure hotel, it's mixed use according to more recent sources posted in previous pages in this thread -- offices, residences, hotel, restaurants.

^^ Offices,restaurants? Who will occupie them? No one has the money to go to a restaurant and the offices well, NK gouvernment offices?

Not pure hotel, it's mixed use according to more recent sources posted in previous pages in this thread -- offices, residences, hotel, restaurants.
And who will sleep in the hotel rooms? The international jetset?

^^ Offices,restaurants? Who will occupie them? No one has the money to go to a restaurant and the offices well, NK gouvernment offices?

Of course people can go to the restaurant, there are quite a few in Pyongyang:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8081057/Kim-Jong-il-turns-his-hand-to-restaurant-design.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7945816.stm

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/burger-10152010151052.html

And as for offices...well, yes? Every NK company is effectively state owned.

And who will sleep in the hotel rooms? The international jetset?

In a way, yes. I imagine the foreign and chinese tourists will be encouraged/forced to stay there. Unless they want them to stay on that hotel on the island.

There's a bunch of tourists visiting North Korea each August/September/October and there's only 2 hotels for them. Think some nights in Ryugyong grim pyramid hotel is a good option :)

Of course people can go to the restaurant, there are quite a few in Pyongyang:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8081057/Kim-Jong-il-turns-his-hand-to-restaurant-design.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7945816.stm

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/burger-10152010151052.html

And as for offices...well, yes? Every NK company is effectively state owned.



In a way, yes. I imagine the foreign and chinese tourists will be encouraged/forced to stay there. Unless they want them to stay on that hotel on the island.

Great Post!! :applause:

^^ Yea well they can build 2000 restaurants...They just sit there empty.The articles speak about rich elite...At least the great leader and his generals can go to differend restaurants now.

Do you honestly think that people in NK have money to go to a restuarant? :nuts:

Do you honestly think that people in NK have money to go to a restuarant? :nuts:

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1598/picardfacepalmy.gif (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/picardfacepalmy.gif/)

^^ Yea well they can build 2000 restaurants...They just sit there empty.The articles speak about rich elite...At least the great leader and his generals can go to differend restaurants now.

Do you honestly think that people in NK have money to go to a restuarant? :nuts:

At least they have their own country as opposed to some in Europe :lol:

^^ Yea well they can build 2000 restaurants...They just sit there empty.The articles speak about rich elite...At least the great leader and his generals can go to differend restaurants now.

Do you honestly think that people in NK have money to go to a restuarant? :nuts:

I guess once again I'll link to Zakura's - a regular visitor to NK -impressions...

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=62658313&postcount=1600

At least they have their own country as opposed to some in Europe :lol:

:old: Meh, I have a country, it's called Flanders

@ the rest: Good tha NK has progress. But i still think that only a very very small minority has money to go to a restaurant.

^ Thanks for that amazing piece of wisdom, joshsam; didn't know you were an expert on North Korean domestic affairs.

^ Thanks for that amazing piece of wisdom, joshsam; didn't know you were an expert on North Korean domestic affairs.



Wow, I am astounded by his great knowledge too!


He should consider writing a book

This city has now lost the title of having the worlds ugliest supertall. Mecca now takes the crown hands down.

^^ show us the pic

yikes thats big

Wow, I am astounded by his great knowledge too!


He should consider writing a book

Kneel for me earthling!

What`s there in Mecca?

^^ this: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=334299

I can not believe some here are praising this building. They slap some cheap blue glass on this decaying concrete monstrosity and some of you folks are willing to overlook that it is the product of the most demented and cruel regime in the world - an expensive white elephant being built in a country where most of the population is starving? You are willing to overlook that this building will never be completed as intended, but rather is just a sham being papered over for propaganda purposes?

Anyone see ANY signs that this thing is being fitted out as a 105 story hotel? Even if it were, who would stay there? For chrissake, stop drooling over this sick joke. Given the nature of the insane regime slapping this thing up, you should not view this thing in a vacuum as if it were simply a large piece of sculpture.

Oh, and with glass or not it is still an ill-proportioned travesty of architecture.

We are not here to discuss the government. Some try and are warned then banned.

If we wanna 'druel' over the architecture and construction of this building, and call it a sculpture, there is nothing you can do about it.

However, when you speak about non building related issues like you did above, we can click the little red and white triangle.

^^ this page is highly hostile for evreryone that doesn't think like the people that praise this building and NK towards the heaven.:bash:
I'm done here.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korea.jpg


http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korre.jpg

I drool over this building....

Cladding on the first picture is truly amazing

^^
I agree, the first picture brings out in the cladding what seems to be really high quality work.
It's astonishing how that was accomplished on top of such an apparently decrepit structure underneath.

This building is taken forever slow, when is it going to finish?

^^ Very nice building.

This building is taken forever slow, when is it going to finish?

2011 maybe 2012 or early 2013.

Why can't Ryugyong be used for offices and residences?

Debate specifically on this topic would be welcome, and drown out politics talk.
I'd like to hear some arguments or a source for what you said.

...Don't say "layout". In some countries, boring hotel hallway layouts are often used as offices and residences. It's DPRK, after all...
...Don't say "room size". For example, Japan has many apartment towers with residences smaller than New York City hotel rooms. And even if they wanted bigger residences, rooms can also be interconnected with the addition of doorway between two adjacent rooms. (Construction companies can do structural checks before cutting a 2-foot hole in a structural wall, they can determine optmium locations that won't affect the building structurally, the loads are often focussed at specific points of the wall, not evenly distributed along the entire wall.)
...Don't say "facilities". Extra electricals and plumbing can be added vertically to the mechanical floors; look at the gigantic mechanical floorplans added by Orascom that wasn't part DPRK's original building plan -- enough mechanical floor room for cooling/electrical/water/sewage capacity to compensate for extra heating/power/use/etc caused by addition of kitchens/copiers/computers/office equipment to rooms that were formerly only going to be used as hotel rooms. Big retrofit like that sort of upgrade have been succesful, there's precedent.

Other technical arguments about the supertall, please?
We can drown out the politics and focus on supertall nitpicks and technicalities, as skyscraper enthusiasts.

I was just saying that the building should be used solely used as a hotel, that's all? What, do you think that the Yonggakdo International Hotel is rarely used for no reason?

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korea.jpg


http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korre.jpg

I love the way the road seems to run up the building - the white lines match the two vertical lines in the building perfectly.

Derek

This sure does looks like a Super-Villain Head Quarters from a movie.


I would not be surprised if Kim jong has an office and a look-out at the tip of the building

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korea.jpg


http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korre.jpg

Whoaah! did'nt expect that it will look stunning! :cheers:

i cannot imagine driving on a nearly empty street in a city that features a supertall

Has anyone noticed the blue skies and greenery!?

Dare to say that NK looks like quite an attractive place

Blue skies and greenery eh, what would you have expected, Mordor?

Look at all that traffic. It makes SoCal and China not look so bad.

Not having traffic is better, less chance to get run over or car crash and no fuel is burned and the enviorment is saved. North Korea is #1 greenist country. F thos citys with thos cars which ruin the air we breath. Pyongyang is #1.

^^
I agree, the first picture brings out in the cladding what seems to be really high quality work.
It's astonishing how that was accomplished on top of such an apparently decrepit structure underneath.

Simple answer: Shims

The sixth picture down shows it best.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=62353927&postcount=1547

:old: Meh, I have a country, it's called Flanders
.

That is not a country.

That is not a country.

not yet...


Oh and I agree, about Pyongyang looking like a great place in those pictures, and these where not made for propaganda.

It certainly is an interesting edifice. It's always weird to see those empty, empty roads. Such a massive culture shock.

The cladding has made it much more visually appealing.

I love this recent picture. The sun really makes the building stand out...
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/44885541.jpg

If you shrink the picture down to 30% it looks good...

Still, it's not a 'recent' photo as it shows leaves on the trees in Pyongyang.

ok, the pic is just toooo big :D. but the Building looks really Awesome now!

I love this building, the way it blends with the mountains in the back, its unique form, and so on.

It looks great now that it's been clad, but unfortunately it has lost a lot of its onimous mystique :P

^^ Very nice building.



2011 maybe 2012 or early 2013.

Finished: 2013
Fully occupied: Never

Finished: 2013
Fully occupied: Never


At liest it will be partly occupied.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korea.jpg


http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korre.jpg

That's so amazing!:applause:

lets take a moment of silence to thank the great leader for this....

1-2--3 NOW

**Silence**

I love this recent picture. The sun really makes the building stand out...

That picture is so wonderfully composed that I think it has to be propaganda.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt118/awaren8/korre.jpg

I love this picture. It looks as if the road continues up the building to the top. Epic. :drool: :okay:

If you shrink the picture down to 30% it looks good...

Still, it's not a 'recent' photo as it shows leaves on the trees in Pyongyang.

Yes, sorry about the Size(i dont know how to shrink it). BTW This Picture was taken in mid-November of 2010.

That picture is so wonderfully composed that I think it has to be propaganda.

Its not Propaganda (Wasnt taken by nk), it was actually taken by a Friend of Mine from his room in the yanggakdo.

Fugly.

We love skyscrapers, that's why we keep coming back here, so the politics should stay out. Lets look at this as a unique skyscraper in an isolated country which makes this all the more interesting. Dubai & its many new buildings that will never be totally populated is too much of a good thing. So I hope if anyone here can post new pictures or write stories about how this Egyptian company is dealing with this project, please, post your stories & pictures. Thank you.

2.14. 2011
http://imgnews.naver.com/image/001/2011/02/17/PYH2011021711630007300_P2.jpg
http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=shm&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0004918334

whats the new weird things on the roof?

love that building! i hope they will do the podium soon as well.

Looks like they want to make it taller than something else? So they are adding a few meters?

Either that or three UFO's landed on the roof. FIRST CONTACT, Pyongyang!

I think that's just the crane, seen from an unusual angle.

but if the date is right it have to be something els, cos on the huge pic in the begining os this page it looks like the cranes have been taken down . .

One of these days when North Korea isn't ruled by a crazy hobbit I will try to visit this hotel. It is a very impressive structure, and the fact that there aren't really that many other tall buildings around means the view would be spectacular.

This thing looks massive. Not that bad too. Wish this wasn't North Korea.

whats the new weird things on the roof?

love that building! i hope they will do the podium soon as well.

Telecom mast? Remember who's doing the construction now...

might be the crane we can't be sure let's wait for more updates

Telecom mast? Remember who's doing the construction now...

aah of course :)

looks extremely tall and massive!looks something like x-seed 4000!

It definately looks like one of the smaller cranes (one of those which they typically use to dismantle the taller ones at the end)

Maybe a little offtopic (although it does include a brief shot of the Ryugyong hotel), but i would like to share the following video. In contains some really nice shots of Pyongyang :)

http://vimeo.com/19901182

I think the thing on top is a building maintainance unit.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=71717359&postcount=2210

Unless the crane can 'pop out' of the roof, it appears the bottom picture (older, left side glass not finished) has a crane, and the top picture (left side finished) there is no crane. Now, the winter picture shows both sides finished and something different on top.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=72814359&postcount=2236