Kim Jong-un's plea for 'world class' ski resort in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has issued a national appeal to speed up work on a "world class" ski resort, which is being built as rival South Korea prepares to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Describing the Masik Pass resort in the northeast of the impoverished country as a "gigantic patriotic work", Kim urged greater effort to complete the project, which features 110 kilometres of multi-level ski runs, a hotel, a heliport and cable cars. The ruling Workers' Party "remains unchanged in its resolution to build a world-class skiing ground within this year", Kim said in an official message.

The resort, which is being built by the military, will "provide the people and school youth and children with highly civilised and happy living conditions", he said.

When Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, died in December 2011 he left a country in dire economic straits - the result of a "military first" policy that fed a missile and nuclear programme at the expense of a malnourished population. Kim Jong-un has largely followed the same path, while paying lip service to a policy of military and economic development.

Despite a reported rise in staple food output, daily life for millions is an ongoing struggle with under-nutrition, according to a World Food Programme report.

In February, the UN resident co-ordinator in North Korea, Desiree Jongsma, said two-thirds of its 24 million population were chronically food insecure and nearly 28 per cent of children under five ill from malnutrition.