Experts are questioning how North Korea paid for its swanky ski resorts

pulse

February 7, 2018 1:06 AM

It is unclear where funding for the resorts came from, or who can afford to vacation there.

North Korea has two large ski resorts, estimated to have cost millions of dollars to build.
The Masikryong resort's $40 ticket price remains
The resorts symbolize

South Korea last week sent a group of athletes to North Korea's prized Masikryong ski resort

Experts say that when looking into North Korean finances, finding a paper trail can be tricky.

Bruce Bennett,

Still, not many people in North Korea can afford to go skiing

While the North Korean government claims the resort sees 70,000 visitors a year, the reality on the ground paints a different picture.

While the resort boasts 120 lavish hotel rooms and modern facilities, several reports have said the resort is sparse.

According to Newsweek, two Brits visited the facilities in 2017 to film a documentary and reported that there were fewer people than other resorts of similar size.

The duo also told Newsweek that they saw "up

Experts have said that money from tourism, hotels, and other luxury goods likely go straight into the regime's funding, which may go back into the pockets of the people who can afford a vacation at Masikryong.

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