Where to Ski And Snowboard - Swiss block North Korea ski lift deal

Swiss block North Korea ski lift deal

26th August 2013, by Abi Butcher

North Korea's leader wants a resort to rival Pyeongchang in South Korea

Switzerland is blocking North Korea’s plans to build a “world-class” ski resort.

The ski lift company Bartholet Maschinenbau (BMF) had agreed to supply chairlifts and cable cars to Pyongyang, in a deal reported to be worth CHF7million (£4.85million) but the Swiss government has blocked the deal.

Marie Avet, a spokesman for Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said it was “inconceivable” that ski resort being planned by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would be used by the general public.

“This is obviously a prestigious propaganda project for the regime,” she said, adding the Swiss government therefore “considers it inappropriate for Swiss companies to participate in such projects.”

The Austrian ski lift company Doppelmayr is also reported to have turned down an order from North Korea for “political reasons”, as has France’s Pomagalski.

In June, North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un ordered his military to build a “world class” resort on the site of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground on the east coast, including 109km of pistes for all abilities, a hotel, cable cars and heliport. Speculation suggests he wants to rival facilities being built in South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics.