Kim Jong-un gives nod to Hong Kong firm to redesign Pyongyang airport
Local firm's design impressed Kim Jong-un, who asked that Pyongyang's airport be upgraded too
An unidentified middleman with a company registered in Hong Kong has been authorised by the North Korean government to select a Hong Kong-based architect to redesign the secretive country's airports.
Local urban planner Otto Cheng Ping-lun, of PLT Planning and Architecture, told the South China Morning Post his proposal to redesign the military airport at Kamgang Tourism Zone, Wonsan, into one for civilian use had impressed state leader Kim Jong-un so much that North Korean authorities invited him to bid for the redesign of Pyongyang's airport as well.
"We were told that Kim was happy with our design. However, Kim said the airport in the capital should not look worse than the one in the economic zone. That's why we were also asked to upgrade the airport in Pyongyang," Cheng said.
"We were approached by a potential investor who is very close to the North Korean government," he said.
Cheng said the investor, whose company is registered in Hong Kong, was authorised by North Korea to choose an architect to design the Pyongyang airport. He declined to reveal further details of the investor, including whether he was a mainlander.
"My partner was invited [to fly to North Korea] on a private jet provided by the investor. Of course, they had to leave their mobile phones in the airport before entering the country," he added.