Well, better late than never.

Can't wait to see it collapse

Meh, I'd stay in it.

Then again, I like weird crap.

Flab: According to some sources, the construction is so bad that the elevator shafts aren't even straight enough to have elevators running through them, and 20 years of being left to the elements has made the bad concrete become brittle.

yeah, even in that article they point out that it should have been knocked down years ago

Sounds like they hired some NY contractors.

It's iconic, like a black fly in their chardonnay.

They should've called it the Ruxol

Brilliant Leader Kim Jong-un makes shiat happen! Unlike dear leader and Great Leader.

Every time I see pictures of Pyongyang I'm struck by the absents of commercial advertising - yes I know they're communist. Billboards, signs and neon lights in every window have just become the norm and when you see a cityscape with out it it looks unusual.

Finally a place to land.

Hotel is not on fire! Proof of concept for Olympic Torch! Best Korea 2024!

Start construction, delay indefinitely over and over again, release way behind schedule, have it suck, blame the previous handlers of the building.

It's the Duke Nukem Forever of construction projects!

They're actually going to USE that monstrosity? I thought I read once, maybe in the Esquire article referenced in the link, that there were serious structural concerns with the shell, including but not limited to elevator shafts that weren't completely straight. So whatever contractors came in to "finish" it were just putting up windows and facades to make it look "pretty."

Best Korea is the most horrifyingly fascinating place on earth.

Cheron: Every time I see pictures of Pyongyang I'm struck by the absents of commercial advertising - yes I know they're communist. Billboards, signs and neon lights in every window have just become the norm and when you see a cityscape with out it it looks unusual.

They advertise the dictatorship and nothing else.

jwrw: Brilliant Leader Kim Jong-un makes shiat happen! Unlike dear leader and Great Leader.

Best Kore is a shining example of how deluded a ruling class can get when it believes its own political bullshiat.

Thankfully, American statesmen are grounded, honest and pragmatic. So that could never happen to us. I mean, our economy is only going to get better from here.

/ I deserve a +1 for typing that with a straight face

Pontious Pilates: They're actually going to USE that monstrosity? I thought I read once, maybe in the Esquire article referenced in the link, that there were serious structural concerns with the shell, including but not limited to elevator shafts that weren't completely straight. So whatever contractors came in to "finish" it were just putting up windows and facades to make it look "pretty."

Best Korea is the most horrifyingly fascinating place on earth.

I think the most likely scenario is that it stands empty. A cell-phone company in Egypt bankrolled the completion of the facade. North Korea gets to cover up an embarrassing eyesore in their capital, cell company gets a phone monopoly.

They'd better offer one hell of a free continental breakfast.

whither_apophis: They should've called it the Ruxol

OK, I raughed..

Laughs at the Ryugyong's attempt at epic tardiness.

SphericalTime: PC LOAD LETTER: Yeah, headline next year: Ryugyong Hotel collapses, killing 12 guests and 300 staff.

If it's really stood for 19 years, it probably won't collapse, it'll most likely burn down from shoddy wiring.

But, fire pulverizes concrete, so....

Uzzah: They'd better offer one hell of a free continental breakfast.

Long pig and bagels.

I think it looks kind of neat with the facade finished, in sort of a Blade Runner way. Not that I'd advise anyone to build another one.

It would have been cooler if they'd made a 1:1 replica of the Egyptian pyramids, using concrete and steel. I imagine if it was built right, it would be really difficult to knock down.

Meanwhile, in other DPRK news:
calendar>>February 8. 2012 Juch 101

Letters Praising Kim Jong Il Carved on Natural Rock

Pyongyang, February 8 (KCNA) -- Letters "Peerless Patriot General Kim Jong Il. February 16, Juche 101 (2012)" were carved on natural rock in Mt. Sokda, Jungsan County, South Phyongan Province on the 70th anniversary of his birth.

The total length of the letters is 120 meters with his name 10 meters high, 5.5 meters wide and 1.4 meters deep. Other letters are 8.5 meters high, 4.8 meters wide and 0.9 meters deep.

Officials and working people in South Phyongan Province chose the rock that is easily visible, reflecting the ardent desire of the people around the country to exalt his immortal revolutionary feats forever.

An unveiling ceremony took place on Wednesday.

Present there were Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop officials concerned, party members and other working people in the county and helpers.

i've been thinking about building a pvc pyramid over my work station

I bet that when the last touch is finished on the outside that Orascom (who funded the completion in exchange for a mobile phone licence) will discover their network encounters a severe case of nationalitis and they'll be sent packing. Such are the joys of cuddling up with a brutal, paranoid, and quite insane dictatorship.

JNowe: Long pig and bagels

Bagels?! You think we can afford bagels??

Pontious Pilates: Best Korea is the most horrifyingly fascinating place on earth.

Indeed. I'd like to dip my balls in it before the regime falls.

the_sidewinder: indylaw: I think the most likely scenario is that it stands empty. A cell-phone company in Egypt bankrolled the completion of the facade. North Korea gets to cover up an embarrassing eyesore in their capital, cell company gets a phone monopoly.

I seem to remember something recently where cell phones were recently outlawed in Best Korea, so I'm glad that's working out well for them

Along the border with China they have a city or two that they're opening up as casino towns/market experiment zones. They'll need cell service there at the very least.

dragonchild: jwrw: Brilliant Leader Kim Jong-un makes shiat happen! Unlike dear leader and Great Leader.

Best Kore is a shining example of how deluded a ruling class can get when it believes its own political bullshiat.

Thankfully, American statesmen are grounded, honest and pragmatic. So that could never happen to us. I mean, our economy is only going to get better from here.

/ I deserve a +1 for typing that with a straight face

Indeed. +1.

indylaw: the_sidewinder: indylaw: I think the most likely scenario is that it stands empty. A cell-phone company in Egypt bankrolled the completion of the facade. North Korea gets to cover up an embarrassing eyesore in their capital, cell company gets a phone monopoly.

I seem to remember something recently where cell phones were recently outlawed in Best Korea, so I'm glad that's working out well for them

Along the border with China they have a city or two that they're opening up as casino towns/market experiment zones. They'll need cell service there at the very least.

The military probably needs it even if civilians are banned.

I think it looks pretty good from the outside.

drxym: I bet that when the last touch is finished on the outside that Orascom (who funded the completion in exchange for a mobile phone licence) will discover their network encounters a severe case of nationalitis and they'll be sent packing. Such are the joys of cuddling up with a brutal, paranoid, and quite insane dictatorship.

Even if it doesn't what are they going to get paid in? For their sake I hope it's gold or something because I have my doubts about the actual worth of North Korean currency. Who would convert it for them? I mean they'd have to find a bank as crazy as they are to even convert it and even then it's not like they would get much.

One is the capital of one of the few remaining communist regimes in the world. The other is a radioactive and abandoned soviet ghost town. Really not too much difference to the naked eye is there?

12349876: indylaw: the_sidewinder: indylaw: I think the most likely scenario is that it stands empty. A cell-phone company in Egypt bankrolled the completion of the facade. North Korea gets to cover up an embarrassing eyesore in their capital, cell company gets a phone monopoly.

I seem to remember something recently where cell phones were recently outlawed in Best Korea, so I'm glad that's working out well for them

Along the border with China they have a city or two that they're opening up as casino towns/market experiment zones. They'll need cell service there at the very least.

The military probably needs it even if civilians are banned.

I'd imagine cell phones would not be good for the leadership at all. Target the dozen cell phones in the country with cruise missiles and instant regime change!

Egoy3k: Even if it doesn't what are they going to get paid in? For their sake I hope it's gold or something because I have my doubts about the actual worth of North Korean currency. Who would convert it for them? I mean they'd have to find a bank as crazy as they are to even convert it and even then it's not like they would get much.

counterfiet US 100 dollar bills are the official currency of the DRPK

Here in these parts, we call it turd polishing....

With the glass facade that thing kinda looks like Subby's mom does at last call: Good from far, but far from good.