North Korea’s Kim Jong-un reappears, visits ‘socialist utopia’ being built near China border
- In his first public appearance in more than a month, Kim Jong-un visited the northern alpine town of Samjiyon near holy Mount Paektu
- The town is being transformed into a massive economic hub touted as the ‘epitome of modern civilisation’, with a ski resort and medical facilities
The northern alpine town of Samjiyon is being transformed into a massive economic hub, called a “socialist utopia” by officials, equipped with new apartments, hotels, a ski resort and commercial, cultural and medical facilities.
The developing city is near Mount Paektu, the holy mountain where Kim’s family claims its roots, and he has made multiple visits since 2018, with the official KCNA news agency touting it as the “epitome of modern civilisation”.
KCNA said Kim’s latest trip was designed to inspect the third and last phase of construction, due to be completed by the end of this year after delays caused by international sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.
KCNA did not give a date for Kim’s visit, but it is the first report of public activity by the leader for 35 days, since he gave a speech at a defence exhibition, his longest absence since 2014.