Swiss block North Korea ski lift deal

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.
Recent news
-
Kitzbühel’s Hahnenkamm Races held behind closed doors this weekend
21 Jan 2021 Kitzbühel’s famous race… -
French ski lifts remain shut
21 Jan 2021 Ski lifts in France are to remain… -
Val Thorens make génépi hand sanitiser
20 Jan 2021 Together with a local pharmacy,… -
GHIC replaces EHIC for British skiers
14 Jan 2021 Travellers are being warned not… -
French ski resorts remain closed
10 Jan 2021 Ski resorts in France will remain… -
Le Ski skips a season
8 Jan 2021 Le Ski decides to cancel all its… -
Italy and Austria delay ski openings
4 Jan 2021 Italy and Austria have delayed… -
Jungfrau’s V-Cableway now in action
23 Dec 2020 Looking beyond the coronavirus… -
Ski resorts in Sweden now open
14 Dec 2020 The Swedish ski resorts of Åre,… -
Italian ski resorts remain closed
9 Dec 2020 Skiing remains off the cards in…