koryo tours north korea

• Why choose Koryo

Koryo Tours — the experts in travel to rather unusual destinations. Our mission: to facilitate responsible tourism to the world’s most isolated and least understood countries while encouraging people-to-people engagement through travel, culture, sport and humanitarian projects.

Meet our staff

Nick — founder, director, and tour leader.

Koryo’s co-founder was a tutor in Landscape Architecture at a Leeds Metropolitan University in the early 1990s and he travelled to Beijing for a study tour and to meet his friend Josh Green. Josh arranged the first Koryo trip (through a North Korean colleague he had studied Chinese with in Beijing) in 1993 and Nick was hooked and together they developed company. Josh left the company in 1997 but still leads the occasional tour and provides reflective insight and advice. Films Comrade Kim Goes Flying (2012) Crossing the Line (2006) A State of Mind (2004) The Game of Their Lives (2002) Books 'Made in North Korea: Graphics From Everyday Life in the DPRK' (Phaidon, 2017)

Simon — General Manager and Tour Leader

Simon is from the south west of England. He moved to Beijing in 2000, becoming Koryo’s General Manager two years after. Having traveled to North Korea more than 175 times — check out Simon's Instagram to see which trip he is on at the moment — he has probably been to the country more than any other westerner. He is a respected speaker on the country and appears regularly in international media . Simon’s tireless work, alongside our partners in Pyongyang, has been essential in opening up new territories within the DPRK to tourists. Apart from the DPRK he designs and leads tours in Kazakhstan , Turkmenistan , and the Russian Far East . Featured Blog Posts My First Trip to North Korea My First Mass Games - 2002 License plates of North Korea

Rebecca — Agent Tours and Tour Leader

Rebecca is a native Beijinger who has worked and studied in Singapore. Alongside fluently speaking two languages, she also has two degrees (one each from China and Singapore). At Koryo she is responsible for dealing with agents – other companies that use our expert services to help them deliver tours of the DPRK. Rebecca has successfully planned trips with close to 100 agents. She regularly travels to the DPRK to ensure she is providing the best information possible for our partners. Please contact us if you are an agent and would like to work with Koryo to offer North Korea trips to your own customers.

Elinor — Business Assistant

Elinor was born in Beijing, and completed her undergraduate at the city’s Wuzi University, where she studied English and business administration. Before joining Koryo in 2016 she worked for an international trading company. Elinor now uses her well-developed administrative skills as Koryo’s business assistant. Perhaps most importantly, her keen eye for detail, not to mention her mastery of difficult documents, means she is a perfect match for the key role of managing the thousands of DPRK (North Korea) visa applications we process each year for our tours .

Greg — Tour Leader

Greg grew up in post-socialist Hungary and has lived in the Netherlands, Israel, and China. He holds a degree in Sociology and Anthropology and worked as a Maintenance Assistant in a US summer camp, on the banana plantations of an Israeli kibbutz, taught Social Statistics in Budapest, and English in rural China. He first traveled to North Koreas as a tourist in 2016 following in the footsteps of his grandparents, who visited in 1988. This trip of a lifetime that made him to dust off his Tour Guide Certificate, and join the Koryo team in 2017. He has been working since managing Koryo's North Korea group tours , developing itineraries, and leading tours. Greg studied Korean for a month in Pyongyang at the Tourism College in October 2018. Read more about Greg's journey to become a North Korean Tour Leader here. Featured Blog Posts Ostalgie: Looking Back on a 1988 Hungarian Family Vacation to the DPRK

Marcus — Tour Leader

Originally from Melbourne in Australia, Marcus joined the Koryo Tours team in 2016. Coming from a corporate work background managing call centres and customer service teams, Marcus made the move to East Asia after an eye opening trip to China and North Korea in 2015. Within Koryo he leads the organisation of the annual Pyongyang Marathon which is biggest annual event on the North Korean travel calendar. He has also become the office expert on North Korean beer which led to him developing the first ever Brewery Industry Tour of North Korea in co-operation with our local partners. Featured Blog Posts North Korean Beer – Ponghak

Peter Young - Freelance Tour Leader

Peter is a freelance tour leader who has spent the last decade living and working in Asia. He has a special interest in the history of socialist states, which he has explored through journeys to remote parts of the DPRK, China, Russia, Vietnam and Laos. In his spare time, Peter enjoys reading, cycle touring and Sichuanese food. Featured Blog Posts: The Abandoned Train Station of Kirovsk

Zoe — Tour Leader

Zoe has been an avid traveller since her teens and hasn’t stayed in one place for much longer than a year since then. Due to her love of meeting new people and exploring new cultures, she has the habit of constantly trying to learn new languages. At university, she studied German, Japanese, and Dutch, and picked up Chinese after moving to China. She has since started her next challenge; Korean. Originally from the UK, she has lived in Austria, Zimbabwe, and Japan before coming to Beijing. She first went to the DPRK for travel 4 years ago, and knew straight away that it wasn’t going to be her last time! Follow Zoe on Instagram @zoediscovers or on YouTube where she vlogs about North Korea. Find out more about Zoe

Ian — Tour Leader

Ian first travelled to North Korea in 2008, crossing the DMZ from South Korea. He has been visiting the country ever since, initially as a tourist with Koryo (of course), and later as a tour guide. He is a keen runner and never misses the Pyongyang Marathon each April. Ian travels to North Korea several times a year as a Koryo Tour guide and also in his capacity as programme manager for Choson Exchange , a charity which teaches business skills to North Korean entrepreneurs. Ian is based in London.

You're in safe hands

Everyone who travels to the DPRK with us gets an extensive pre-tour briefing at our Beijing office from one of our country experts.

Koryo Tours was established in 1993 by Joshua Green and Nick Bonner as a travel company to promote cultural exchange to DPRK (North Korea). Joshua had worked in Pyongyang for over a year setting up TNT courier company and through his contacts arranged the first tour. Nick was trained in Landscape Architecture and used his skills in design to develop the Studio and engagement side of the company. Simon Cockerell studied philosophy at University and his passion for travel led him to Koryo. He joined the company in 2002 to specialise in travel and sport exchanges whilst Nick continues to mainly work in art and film.

Why Choose Koryo

We can provide you with unparalleled access to the DPRK thanks to more than two decades spent developing long-running and deep-seated relationships with our local partners in the country. Travel with Koryo Tours and our access will allow you to go farther and see more than you ever imagined.

We’ve been running tours to the DPRK since 1993 — our staff have made hundreds of trips, and looked after tens of thousands of tourists over the years. We believe it’s important that if you travel to a country as complicated as the DPRK, you do so with people that have proven experience leading safe and successful tours.

Koryo Tours facilitated the earliest Western tourism to the DPRK and created the industry as we now know it — and since that first trip in 1993 we’ve been looking to innovate. From opening up new destinations, such as Hamhung, to introducing new activities for tourists, as seen in the country’s first-ever cycling tour, we continue to push things forward to this day.

We think the DPRK is one of the world’s most fascinating places. We also think it’s one of the least understood. Our unrivalled access, experience and passion mean that the world’s media often call upon us to share the insights gained through our many trips. But we’d much rather share this insider and expert knowledge with you in person — whether that's simply via email, or on a trip to Pyongyang and beyond.

Koryo Tours is deeply committed to responsible tourism. We take our commitments and responsibilities very seriously, both towards you, and your safety, as well as towards our partners in the DPRK and the country itself. For you, this includes an extensive pre-tour briefing at our office; for the DPRK we’re proud to support a number of humanitarian projects there, and have done so since the ’90s.

We're able to run a number of important projects thanks to your backing as someone who travels to the DPRK with us. These projects range from charity work, such as our support of eight orphanages within the country, to key cultural-engagement initiatives, such as our role in bringing architects and artists together from both sides of Korea's divided peninsula for the 2014 Venice Biennale.

Koryo Tours, its staff and its trips frequently feature in the media — whether that be as experts discussing travel to the DPRK, or coverage of one of our exciting tours. Please see below for a selection of stories about what we've been up to.

Take a train through North Korea's rarely seen countryside

This railway route passes through towns and villages historically closed off to foreigners.

There's never been a better time to visit North Korea

2018 has been a landmark year. So is the 'hermit kingdom' finally opening up?

Michael Palin in North Korea

Koryo Tours took Michael Palin to North Korea for a Channel 5 travel series.

Rare look inside DPRK (North Korea)

Explore the North Korean capital of Pyongyang in this intriguing time-lapse of a city rarely seen by foreigners.

Bringing the world closer to North Korea

A British expat who leads tours to the isolated DPRK explains why there are things to like about it.

Fostering engagement with Pyongyang

Meet the Beijing-based Briton seeking to promote ties with DPRK (North Korea) via travel and film.

New train tour to reveal DPRK's unseen corners

A Beijing-based tour company specializing in North Korea tours is offering a rare train journey that goes far beyond the country's "already exposed" capital.

Holidays in North Korea: "Safe and easily accessible"

Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, tells the BBC about why tourists want to go on holiday to North Korea.

Tourists complete a cycling tour of DPRK (North Korea)

A group of tourists have become the first to complete a cycling tour of North Korea — on a trip organised by a British-run travel company.

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Vladivostok, south korea, the experts in travel to rather unusual destinations, countries we visit, north korea (dprk), russia  , latest news, museums of beijing #103: national museum of china.

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List of Countries Without Coronavirus

Believe it or not, there are countries without coronavirus, let's have a look and see which ones they are! (Updated: 25 NOVEMBER 2021)

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[email protected] | + 86 10 6416 7544 Room A409, Jucai Building. No. 76 Caoyuan Hutong. Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100027, PR China

中国北京市东城区草园胡同76号聚才大厦A 座409 室, 邮编：100027 Download contact card

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Koryo Dynasty (918-1392)

Koryo (Goryeo) was established in 918 and in the year 936 became the ruling Kingdom on the Korean Peninsula. It was founded by Taejo Wang Kon. Its capital was moved to Kaesong just 8 km north of the demarcation zone that currently divides the Korean peninsula.

Map of the Koryo Dynasty in Sariwon City , capital of North Hwanghae Province

Buddhism expanded around the peninsula and significant technological achievements were made, such as the world's first metallic paintings. In the 13th century the Mongols expanded all the way to Korea, and managed to achieve concessions from Koryo after 30 years of resistance. The Mongols allied with Koryo (spelled Goryeo in South Korea) troops to invade Japan, which ultimately was not possible given strong military resistance and heavy storms.

At the end of the 14th century a coup d'etat led to to the end of the kingdom and the establishment of a new dynasty.

Interested in North Korean history? You may want to check the following pages:

The History of North Korea | KTG® Tours | South Korean leaders visit North Korea (DPRK)

The history of North Korea 2000s | KTG® Tours | saw two unprecedented events, that of South Korean presidents crossing the demarcation line and visiting the DPRK. Pyongyang has hosted Kim Dae-jung & Ro

North Korean History 1980s & 1990s | KTG® Tours

North Korean History during the 1980s & 1990s | KTG® Tours| Fall of the Soviet Union. Leader Kim Jong Il who succeeds his father President Kim Il Sung in 1994. North Korea's Juche philosophy of self-reliance and the fall of the soviet block

Political History of North Korea | KTG® Tours | Information and North Korea Tours

Political History of North Korea | KTG® Tours | the DPRK was founded in 1948. North Korea adopted the Chollima policy to reconstruct the DPRK after the Korean War, under the Great Leader's guidance, Kim Il Sung

Please click here to go from our Koryo section to see other periods of Korean history.

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The Haunting Tale Of North Korea's 'Hotel Of Doom'

Posted: April 28, 2024 | Last updated: April 28, 2024

Doomed from the start

Dreamt up in the 1980s as a show of North Korea's Cold War might, the Ryugyong Hotel has never, even briefly, opened its doors. Instead, it's been towering above North Korean capital Pyongyang for nearly 40 years – unfinished, semi-abandoned, and shrouded in mystery, but not forgotten. Here, we uncover its chequered past and curious secrets.

Click through the gallery for a rare look inside the so-called 'Hotel of Doom'...

A troubled past

A single nation before it was annexed by Japan in 1910, the Korean peninsula's last century or so has been extremely turbulent. At the end of the Second World War, Korea – which was formerly occupied by the Japanese – was divided into two parts: South Korea and North Korea. 

The former is a capitalist country with US support, which became a democracy in 1987 and is now a tech hub and one of the world's foremost economies. Meanwhile, North Korea is a totalitarian communist state run by the Kim dynasty. It was supported by the Soviet Union until its demise in 1991.

The Cold War rivalry between the two countries and their different systems was a big part of the motivation behind the Ryugyong Hotel project.

The story begins

The hotel's story began in 1986, when the Westin Stamford Hotel opened in Singapore and became the tallest hotel in the world. It was built by a South Korean company, and the Ryugyong Hotel was partly conceived to steal away the Westin Stamford's record, as well as to open up a channel for Western investment in North Korea.

It's thought that the North Korean government hoped to attract $230 million of foreign investment when the project broke ground in 1987. The building site is pictured here in 1990.

A practical design

The imposing structure consists of three wings, each of which climb up to the 1,080-foot-high tip and slope at a 75-degree angle. However, its unusual shape is not a thought-through design feature; the North Koreans didn't have the advanced construction materials used in most modern skyscrapers and instead relied on reinforced concrete, so physics partially dictated the building's form.

To achieve the intended height, there had to be a large base and a tapered top to support the enormous weight of the building.

The tallest pyramid in the world

It's hard to put the hotel's massive size into context when it's the only skyscraper piercing the Pyongyang sky, but it's the tallest pyramid-shaped building in the world, surpassing even the Shard in London and the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco. The total floor area is just under four million square feet – on the low side for a tower of such height and stature.

A symbol of the capital

The skyscraper is so much taller than the rest of Pyongyang that it can be seen for miles outside it – here it is pictured in 2011 on a road leading into the city. The hotel was named after a historic nickname for Pyongyang, meaning 'capital of willows.'

It was apparently intended to resemble the shape of a willow too, but the retro Soviet design made it look more like a rocket or a missile, leading local guides to sometimes humorously refer to it as 'the missile launch pad.'

Ambitious amenities

The body of the hotel was designed to contain at least 3,000 rooms, while the cone at the top was supposed to house eight rotating floors and a further six static floors, as well as a viewing platform. The rotating floors were intended to host five revolving restaurants offering high-end dining and panoramic 360-degree views out over the city, in addition to the hotel's most exclusive guest rooms.

Political tug of war

South Korea was booming in the late 1980s – Seoul was gearing up to host the 1988 Olympics (pictured) and the country was part-way through transitioning into a capitalist democracy. The North naturally boycotted the Olympics and, as a response, organized the World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang in 1989.

The Ryugyong Hotel was supposed to be ready for the event – to debut on the world stage as a symbol of North Korean greatness. But thanks to a series of engineering problems, it was unfinished when the festival began.

A failed project

The government had already poured billions into expanding Pyongyang's airport, paving new roads, and building a stadium for the festival, and the start of the collapse of the Soviet Union later in 1989 was a disaster for North Korea. Deprived of vital aid and investment and with nowhere else to turn, the secretive state entered full-scale economic crisis. 

The grand opening of the hotel was replanned to coincide with the 80th birthday celebrations of then-President Kim Il Sung in 1992, but this too never occurred.

Constructions ends

The skyscraper's concrete exterior was finished by 1992, but construction then ground to a halt so rapidly that a crane was left abandoned at the building's top. Japanese newspapers estimated that the construction had so far cost the North Korean government around $750 million, or 2% of North Korea's GDP at the time.

The building's menacing shadow stood over the capital for another 16 years before any work resumed.

Hotel of Doom

For years, the building's hollow shell lay abandoned – a hundred or so seemingly empty floors gathering dust and dirt – resembling something out of a dystopian, apocalyptic movie. It was during this time that the monstrous structure, towering over the rest of Pyongyang's buildings, earned the moniker 'Hotel of Doom.'

The Egyptians come to the rescue

After the 16-year hiatus, construction restarted in 2008, when an Egyptian conglomerate contracted to install North Korea's 3G network also resumed work on the hotel. The by-then rusty crane was finally removed from the tower's top and workers clad the building in the sparkling glass and metal panels that adorn it today.

The project was completed in 2011 and it was announced that the hotel would be finished by the 100th birthday celebrations of the late president Kim II Sung a year later.

A helping hand...

A year after the exterior of the hotel was finally finished, luxury hotel group Kempinski announced they would assist in its management and promised a partial opening by the middle of 2013. The deal promised 150 hotel rooms, stores, office spaces, restaurants, ballrooms, and a cinema on the lower floors.

The announcement was met with surprise – particularly in South Korea.

...but it's then retracted

Kempinski pulled out of the deal just a few months later, saying that "market entry is not currently possible." Some pointed to tensions surrounding the 2013 North Korean nuclear test, and the statement also reignited rumors that the building was structurally unsound – rumors fuelled by a 23-story apartment block collapsing in Pyongyang a year later due to shoddy construction practices. 

Further whispers alleged that the lift shafts were not correctly aligned, but these suggestions have never been proven.

A new purpose

In 2018 the building was brought back to life once again, as a wall of LED lights was added to an entire side of the hotel. These lights have played a role in government propaganda efforts, projecting clips of North Korean history and sprawling political slogans across the hotel's vast, glassy surface, with a huge North Korean flag splashed across the hotel's top.

A political staging area

Even when the lights are switched off, the hotel serves as a dramatic backdrop to political propaganda performances. For example, an arts troupe that North Korea sent to the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea did a widely-publicized performance in front of the building before they left for South Korea; while in 2009, May Day (also known as International Workers Day) was celebrated with fireworks launched from the sides of the skyscraper.

Is there a need for a new hotel?

Despite North Korea's aversion to foreigners, the hermit state has hosted a steady trickle of organized tours over the years, so there are already several functional hotels in the capital. The Yanggakdo International Hotel (pictured) is the largest, set on an island in the Taedong River, while the Ryanggang Hotel is generally considered the fanciest – that is until the Ryugyong finally opens.

A rare look inside

North Korea is extremely secretive about the hotel, so Simon Cockerell (pictured), a tour guide and leading North Korea tourism specialist, couldn't believe his luck when he and his colleague Hannah were finally allowed a sneak peek back in 2012. They're the only two confirmed Westerners to have been allowed inside the building.

While leading tours with Koryo Group , Simon has visited North Korea a whopping 182 times, starting in 2002 and finishing in 2019, when North Korea closed its borders.

Glass and metal

Simon's visit came shortly after the process of cladding the building with glass was completed, offering unique glimpses of the unfinished interior and rare close-ups of the structure's shiny new paneling.

Cement and concrete

Simon describes the interior as "very much a work in progress." "It was all cement and concrete," he says, and the inside was extremely sparse and bare.

"Since then a lot of work has been done on the lower floors at least," he adds, "but how much nearer to any form of completion it is impossible to say."

Modern spaces

Some parts of the building, like this interior cityscape view through floor-to-ceiling windows, wouldn't be out of place in any office block or undeveloped apartment block in any of the world's major cities.

Welcome to the lobby

Simon managed to see a remarkable cross-section of the building. His tour started on the ground floor and the mezzanine areas before ascending to the 99th floor – the location of the viewing platform.

He says that it's a common misconception that the building has 105 floors; the construction elevator topped out at 99 and didn't have any other floor buttons.

The view from the top

There's another viewing platform in Pyongyang atop the 560-foot Juche Tower, but the Ryugyong platform is nearly twice as high. "You could see the entire city and the sensitive government area nearby too," says Simon.

"I did ask when it opens if there would be limits on how people could take photos up there and was told that this would be decided in the future."

Piercing the city skyline

Here, the skyscraper can be seen from the viewing platform at Juche Tower, the second tallest monumental column in the world after the San Jacinto Monument in Texas in the United States. The San Jacinto Monument is 567 feet tall, edging Juche Tower into second place by roughly the height of an average refrigerator.

Pyongyang in miniature

From the Ryugyong viewing platform most of Pyongyang is so far below you that it looks like it's made from Lego, but you can also spot other important North Korean building projects. One side yields views of the so-called Arch of Triumph and the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, also known as the May Day Stadium, which claims to be the world's largest with a capacity of 150,000.

The myth of failure

Some reports say the government is trying to pretend the building isn't there and is airbrushing it out of official images until it's open. Simon says that's not true: "It appears on books, is always mentioned with pride and is no secret."

He also says locals don't mind the time it's taking to finish it: "The timescale is long, but Pyongyang is not Dubai or Shanghai, so I don’t think people are really that bothered. Also they've built all kinds of prestige areas in the capital that look very impressive since then, so there's much for people to be proud of in terms of construction in the capital. It isn’t the weird white elephant that is often assumed."

National pride

Simon predicts that the hotel could successfully be used as a propaganda tool in the future. "I know many people imagine it is some symbol of shame, but I think locals see it differently," he says.

"They see it as a long-term project, and also see the delays in completion as being the fault of the outside world (basically the US), which is blamed for everything in North Korea. No doubt if it finally opens, it will be much publicized there as some kind of massive victory over enemy forces."

What's next?

In June 2019, new signage appeared above the hotel's entrance bearing the hotel's name in both Korean and English and its logo, but it remains impossible to tell whether it's any closer to completion. It was shared on social media platform X (then Twitter) by Alek Sigley, an Australian tour guide and blogger who was later detained and expelled from North Korea on espionage charges.

Light shows for now

For now, light shows of still and moving images appear every evening between 7-10pm and have become part of daily life for Pyongyang locals. But there's currently no sign of any building works happening, nor any further information on when the hotel might finally open.

We might have to wait a little while yet to see if the Hotel of Doom can shed its nickname and finally fulfil its purpose...

Read on for more tourist attractions that failed to live up to the hype

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The haunting tale of North Korea's 'Hotel of Doom'

Doomed from the start.

Hemis/Alamy Stock Photo

Dreamt up in the 1980s as a show of North Korea's Cold War might, the Ryugyong Hotel has never, even briefly, opened its doors. Instead, it's been towering above North Korean capital Pyongyang for almost 40 years – unfinished, semi-abandoned and shrouded in mystery, but not forgotten.

We uncover its chequered past and curious secrets.

A troubled past

colaimages/Alamy Stock Photo

A single nation before it was annexed by Japan in 1910, the Korean peninsula's last century or so has been extremely turbulent. At the end of the Second World War, Korea – which was formerly occupied by the Japanese – was divided into two parts: South Korea and North Korea.

The former is a capitalist country with US support, which became a democracy in 1987 and is now a tech hub and one of the world's foremost economies. Meanwhile, North Korea is a totalitarian communist state run by the Kim dynasty. It was supported by the Soviet Union until its demise in 1991.

The Cold War rivalry between the two countries and their different systems was a big part of the motivation behind the Ryugyong Hotel project.

The story begins

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

The hotel's story began in 1986, when the Westin Stamford Hotel opened in Singapore and became the tallest hotel in the world. It was built by a South Korean company, and the Ryugyong Hotel was partly conceived to steal away the Westin Stamford's record, as well as to open up a channel for Western investment in North Korea.

It's thought that the North Korean government hoped to attract £186 million ($230m) of foreign investment when the project broke ground in 1987. The building site is pictured here in 1990.

A practical design

robertharding/Alamy Stock Photo

The imposing structure consists of three wings, each of which climb up to the 1,080-foot-high (330m) tip and slope at a 75-degree angle. However, its unusual shape is not a thought-through design feature; the North Koreans didn't have the advanced construction materials used in most modern skyscrapers and instead relied on reinforced concrete, so physics partially dictated the building's form.

To achieve the intended height, there had to be a large base and a tapered top to support the enormous weight of the building.

The tallest pyramid in the world

It's hard to put the hotel's massive size into context when it's the only skyscraper piercing the Pyongyang sky, but it's the tallest pyramid-shaped building in the world, surpassing even the Shard in London and the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco. The total floor area is just under four million square feet (360,000sqm) – on the low side for a tower of such height and stature.

A symbol of the capital

The skyscraper is so much taller than the rest of Pyongyang that it can be seen for miles outside it – here it is pictured in 2011 on a road leading into the city. The hotel was named after a historic nickname for Pyongyang, meaning 'capital of willows'.

It was apparently intended to resemble the shape of a willow too, but the retro Soviet design made it look more like a rocket or a missile, leading local guides to sometimes humorously refer to it as 'the missile launch pad'.

Ambitious amenities

Eric Lafforgue/Art In All Of Us/Corbis via Getty Images

The body of the hotel was designed to contain at least 3,000 rooms, while the cone at the top was supposed to house eight rotating floors and a further six static floors, as well as a viewing platform. The rotating floors were intended to host five revolving restaurants offering high-end dining and panoramic 360-degree views out over the city, in addition to the hotel's most exclusive guest rooms.

Political tug of war

Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

South Korea was booming in the late 1980s – Seoul was gearing up to host the 1988 Olympics (pictured) and the country was part-way through transitioning into a capitalist democracy. The North naturally boycotted the Olympics and, as a response, organised the World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang in 1989.

The Ryugyong Hotel was supposed to be ready for the event – to debut on the world stage as a symbol of North Korean greatness. But thanks to a series of engineering problems, it was unfinished when the festival began.

A failed project

The government had already poured billions into expanding Pyongyang's airport, paving new roads and building a stadium for the festival, and the start of the collapse of the Soviet Union later in 1989 was a disaster for North Korea. Deprived of vital aid and investment and with nowhere else to turn, the secretive state entered full-scale economic crisis.

The grand opening of the hotel was replanned to coincide with the 80th birthday celebrations of then-President Kim Il Sung in 1992, but this too never occurred.

Constructions ends

Mark Scott Johnson/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0

The skyscraper's concrete exterior was finished by 1992, but construction then ground to a halt so rapidly that a crane was left abandoned at the building's top. Japanese newspapers estimated that the construction had so far cost the North Korean government around £605 million ($750m), or 2% of North Korea's GDP at the time.

The building's menacing shadow stood over the capital for another 16 years before any work resumed.

Hotel of Doom

Public domain/Wikimedia Commons

For years, the building's hollow shell lay abandoned – a hundred or so seemingly empty floors gathering dust and dirt – resembling something out of a dystopian, apocalyptic movie. It was during this time that the monstrous structure, towering over the rest of Pyongyang's buildings, earned the moniker 'Hotel of Doom'.

The Egyptians come to the rescue

ERIC LAFFORGUE/Alamy Stock Photo

After the 16-year hiatus, construction restarted in 2008, when an Egyptian conglomerate contracted to install North Korea's 3G network also resumed work on the hotel. The by-then rusty crane was finally removed from the tower's top and workers clad the building in the sparkling glass and metal panels that adorn it today.

The project was completed in 2011 and it was announced that the hotel would be finished by the 100th birthday celebrations of the late president Kim II Sung a year later.

A helping hand...

A year after the exterior of the hotel was finally finished, luxury hotel group Kempinski announced they would assist in its management and promised a partial opening by the middle of 2013. The deal promised 150 hotel rooms, shops, office spaces, restaurants, ballrooms and a cinema on the lower floors.

The announcement was met with surprise – particularly in South Korea.

...but it's then retracted

Kempinski pulled out of the deal just a few months later, saying that "market entry is not currently possible". Some pointed to tensions surrounding the 2013 North Korean nuclear test, and the statement also reignited rumours that the building was structurally unsound – rumours fuelled by a 23-storey apartment block collapsing in Pyongyang a year later due to shoddy construction practices.

Further whispers alleged that the lift shafts were not correctly aligned, but these suggestions have never been proven.

A new purpose

In 2018 the building was brought back to life once again, as a wall of LED lights was added to an entire side of the hotel. These lights have played a role in government propaganda efforts, projecting clips of North Korean history and sprawling political slogans across the hotel's vast, glassy surface, with a huge North Korean flag splashed across the hotel's top.

A political staging area

ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images

Even when the lights are switched off, the hotel serves as a dramatic backdrop to political propaganda performances. For example, an arts troupe that North Korea sent to the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea did a widely-publicised performance in front of the building before they left for South Korea; while in 2009, May Day (also known as International Workers Day) was celebrated with fireworks launched from the sides of the skyscraper.

Is there a need for a new hotel?

ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo

Despite North Korea's aversion to foreigners, the hermit state has hosted a steady trickle of organised tours over the years, so there are already several functional hotels in the capital. The Yanggakdo International Hotel (pictured) is the largest, set on an island in the Taedong River, while the Ryanggang Hotel is generally considered the fanciest – that is until the Ryugyong finally opens.

A rare look inside

Courtesy of Koryo Tours

North Korea is extremely secretive about the hotel, so Simon Cockerell (pictured), a tour guide and leading North Korea tourism specialist, couldn't believe his luck when he and his colleague Hannah were finally allowed a sneak peek back in 2012. They're the only two confirmed Westerners to have been allowed inside the building.

While leading tours with Koryo Group , Simon has visited North Korea a whopping 182 times, starting in 2002 and finishing in 2019, when North Korea closed its borders.

Glass and metal

Simon's visit came shortly after the process of cladding the building with glass was completed, offering unique glimpses of the unfinished interior and rare close-ups of the structure's shiny new panelling.

Cement and concrete

Simon describes the interior as "very much a work in progress". "It was all cement and concrete," he says, and the inside was extremely sparse and bare.

"Since then a lot of work has been done on the lower floors at least," he adds, "but how much nearer to any form of completion it is impossible to say."

Modern spaces

Some parts of the building, like this interior cityscape view through floor-to-ceiling windows, wouldn't be out of place in any office block or undeveloped apartment block in any of the world's major cities.

Welcome to the lobby

Simon managed to see a remarkable cross-section of the building. His tour started on the ground floor and the mezzanine areas before ascending to the 99th floor – the location of the viewing platform.

He says that it's a common misconception that the building has 105 floors; the construction elevator topped out at 99 and didn't have any other floor buttons.

The view from the top

There's another viewing platform in Pyongyang atop the 560-foot (170m) Juche Tower, but the Ryugyong platform is nearly twice as high. "You could see the entire city and the sensitive government area nearby too," says Simon.

"I did ask when it opens if there would be limits on how people could take photos up there and was told that this would be decided in the future."

Piercing the city skyline

Benoit Cappronnier/Alamy Stock Photo

Here, the skyscraper can be seen from the viewing platform at Juche Tower, the second tallest monumental column in the world after the San Jacinto Monument in Texas in the United States. The San Jacinto Monument is 567 feet (172m) tall, edging Juche Tower into second place by roughly the height of an average refrigerator.

Pyongyang in miniature

From the Ryugyong viewing platform most of Pyongyang is so far below you that it looks like it's made from Lego, but you can also spot other important North Korean building projects. One side yields views of the so-called Arch of Triumph and the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, also known as the May Day Stadium, which claims to be the world's largest with a capacity of 150,000.

The myth of failure

Some reports say the government is trying to pretend the building isn't there and is airbrushing it out of official images until it's open. Simon says that's not true: "It appears on books, is always mentioned with pride and is no secret."

He also says locals don't mind the time it's taking to finish it: "The timescale is long, but Pyongyang is not Dubai or Shanghai, so I don’t think people are really that bothered. Also they've built all kinds of prestige areas in the capital that look very impressive since then, so there's much for people to be proud of in terms of construction in the capital. It isn’t the weird white elephant that is often assumed."

National pride

Simon predicts that the hotel could successfully be used as a propaganda tool in the future. "I know many people imagine it is some symbol of shame, but I think locals see it differently," he says.

"They see it as a long-term project, and also see the delays in completion as being the fault of the outside world (basically the US), which is blamed for everything in North Korea. No doubt if it finally opens, it will be much publicised there as some kind of massive victory over enemy forces."

What's next?

Alek Sigley/X

In June 2019, new signage appeared above the hotel's entrance bearing the hotel's name in both Korean and English and its logo, but it remains impossible to tell whether it's any closer to completion. It was shared on social media platform X (then Twitter) by Alek Sigley, an Australian tour guide and blogger who was later detained and expelled from North Korea on espionage charges.

Light shows for now

For now, light shows of still and moving images appear every evening between 7-10pm and have become part of daily life for Pyongyang locals. But there's currently no sign of any building works happening, nor any further information on when the hotel might finally open.

We might have to wait a little while yet to see if the Hotel of Doom can shed its nickname and finally fulfil its purpose...

Read on for more tourist attractions that failed to live up to the hype

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A Chinese travel agency specializing in tourism in North Korea confirmed that North Korea has entered the process of abolishing the name "Sunday" and announced that it will no longer use the term.

According to the Korea Tour in Beijing, China, on the 28th, the company said in a post on its website on the 25th, "We have been informed by our North Korean partner that the phrase 'Sunday Day' is being phased out in North Korea," adding, "[Sun Day] is no longer used."

"This fact has not been announced by North Korea's state media," Koryo Tour said, but explained, "The gradual removal of these phrases is generally not announced, and 'Sunday' may be one of these examples."

"We have repeatedly confirmed from our North Korean partners that this step will not actually be used anymore," he said. "We will reflect this change throughout the website."

North Korea established Kim Il-sung's birthday (April 15) as the Day of the Sun in 1997 and held various cultural events related to the Day of the Sun before and after the anniversary, creating a celebratory atmosphere. However, this year, the term Sun Day has not been used in state media since February 17, and the term appeared only in one article on the 15th, the day of Sun Day. Through this, it was analyzed that North Korea intentionally replaced or deleted the term Sun Day.

The Ministry of Unification also met with reporters on the 16th and said, "Based on the various circumstances conducted to mark Kim Il-sung's birthday this year, we tentatively believe that the name has changed (from the Day of the Sun to April 15)."

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North Korea Private Tours

As North Korea private tour specialists with over 15 years of experience, we arrange exclusive private tours for individuals, friends, families, and colleagues who seek a unique and personalised travel experience in North Korea.

Choose from our curated  Signature Series itineraries or design your own tailor-made tour with us. We can arrange visits to all 9 provinces in North Korea, which covers all corners of the country. There is far more to see and do in North Korea than you may expect!

On a private tour, enjoy the flexibility of choosing your own travel dates, subject to the Air Koryo flight schedule   and/or the China-DPRK train schedule .

If you are interested in a private tour to North Korea, please contact us.

What's included in a North Korea Private Tour?

Our private tour packages are all-inclusive of return transport (either train or flight) to North Korea,  premium accommodations , all meals, entry fees, two local English-speaking North Korean guides, modern air-conditioned land transport, and driver.

Our packages include the best available accommodations in each region. We are the only operator providing upgraded 4 and 5-star accommodation options at standard tour rates. A tour to North Korea is certain to be packed with activities and the importance of a comfortable night’s rest, reliable facilities, and amenities cannot be overstated.

Local North Korean guides can be arranged that speak the following languages fluently: English, Chinese, German, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, and Thai.

Prices are per person in Euros (EUR) based on twin/double occupancy. If you wish to have your own room (excluding 1 person rate), there is a single supplement of €40 per night.

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The below base pricing includes round-trip transport between Beijing and Pyongyang by train .

You can upgrade to flight either one-way or return, and business class is available.

• Upgrade to one-way flight between Beijing and Pyongyang (either way): €195
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North Korea Private Tours from Shanghai

Visiting North Korea from Shanghai is the best value option! Enjoy an entire extra full day of activities compared to a tour from Beijing of the same length. See below for an example:

3 Night tour return from Beijing: Day 1:  Depart Beijing 13:05 arriving Pyongyang 16:05. Day 2:   Full day of activities Day 3:   Full day of activities Day 4:  Depart Pyongyang 08:30 arriving Beijing 09:50.

2.5 Night tour return from Shanghai: Day 1:  Depart Shanghai 22:35 arriving Pyongyang 01:55 (+1 day) Day 2:   Full day of activities Day 3:   Full day of activities Day 4:   Full day of activities , depart Pyongyang 19:55 arriving Shanghai 21:35

Pricing includes return flights between Shanghai (PVG) and Pyongyang (FNJ) on Air Koryo. Upgrades to business class are available.

Flights between Shanghai and Pyongyang run from April - November.

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• To see why visiting North Korea from Shanghai could be perfect for you, read our blog post!

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Pricing includes return flights between Shenyang (SHE) and Pyongyang (FNJ) on Air Koryo. Upgrades to business class are available.

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The city of Vladivostok in Russia's far east is the only hub outside China operating scheduled flights to Pyongyang. Flights operate from Vladivostok International Airport (VVO).

Pricing includes return flights between Vladivostok (VVO) and Pyongyang (FNJ) on Air Koryo. Upgrades to business class are available.

• North Korean visa service: €110 . We don't need your physical passport for this process.

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'Day of the Sun' in North Korea is no more as DPRK Changes Name Holiday

By Koryo Tours

North Korea to change name of 'Day of the Sun' holiday

North Korea 'Day of the Sun' No Longer Used

Update: april 25 2024.

Koryo Tours has been informed by our North Korean partners that the phrase 'Day of the Sun' is being phased out in North Korea. It will no longer be used. 

The Day of the Sun was the name that referred to the holiday in North Korea celebrating the birth of Kim Il Sung from 1997 to 2024. 

This phase was used at certain points for the April 2024 celebrations, but indeed notably less than in previous years and not found in written media. It is for this reason we presume it to be a gentle phase-out.

This has not been announced by state media in the DPRK. However, such gradual elimination of phrases is generally not announced. Rather, they are simply just phased out.

This could be one of those instances. 

Nevertheless, without any official announcement, we have been reassured multiple times by our North Korean partners that this phase is indeed to be no longer used. We will be reflecting this change throughout our website. 

Day of the Sun New Term?

Koryo Tours has not been informed that there is a new specific term to replace this.

Rather, this term is simply not in use anymore. 

About the Day of the Sun (i.e. 'Kim Il Sung's Birthday')

This is a significant holiday in North Korea. It is celebrated annually on 15 April. This day commemorates the birth of President Kim Il Sung, a pivotal figure in North Korean history.

This year, 2024, marks the 112th anniversary of his birth in the Juche 113 calendar.

North Korea comes alive during this holiday with vibrant festivities and favourable spring weather. It's an opportune time for tourists to immerse themselves in the culture and witness the country's deep reverence for its founding leader.

Key Events and Activities

- Mass Dances:  Public dancing events that are a spectacle to behold, showcasing unity and celebration.

- Fireworks at Kim Il Sung Square : A dazzling display that lights up the night sky in honour of the President's legacy.

- Kim Ilsungia Flower Festival: An exhibition displaying the beautiful Kim Ilsungia flowers, named after the President.  

- Special Performances: Circus acts and other entertainment offerings that captivate audiences.

Historical Sites to Visit

A visit to North Korea during Kim Il Sung's Birthday offers opportunities to explore places with significant historical ties to Kim Il Sung:

- Mansudae Grand Monuments

- Kumsusan Palace of the Sun

- Mangyongdae Nativehouse

You might find on this day that you will come across many locals relaxing and having fun in public areas such as parks, visiting the flower exhibition, or joining in mass dances. 

And maybe even a karaoke session you can join in on, too! 

• Pyongyang Marathon

The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, now known as the Pyongyang Marathon, is held around Kim Il Sung's Birthday. This marathon offers a unique way to experience the holiday, combining sports and celebration.

Koryo Tours offers both group and private tours tailored for the Day of the Sun. The demand for these tours is usually very high. We usually recommend early booking to secure your spot.

North Korea Border Updates

For updates on the North Korean border opening, make sure to check our page  which is frequently updated. 

Koryo Tours North Korea Tours

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