Headlines like these show up almost every three or so months in the mainstream media. It seems strange that a country that is, "impoverished and, still technically in a "cease fire" with its neighbor and suffering heavy sanctions since the 1950s would be busy spending time, man power and money building vacation resorts, ski lodges, giant hotels and other destinations that most of its population and the world can never visit.
Classified as a "Hermit State" North Korea is alone in its world political and civic situation. Since the fall of the Soviet empire North Korea has been functionally isolated from the rest of the world financially, diplomatically, and economically. Traditionally this would not be a good footing to try and shift a country to a tourism based GDP. But when their soviet backers flawed system finally succumbed to its slow, inevitable fate that is what North Koreas second dynastic leader Kim Jung IL did.
The mainstream theory is that the North creates posh, vacation resorts to manufacture short term jobs in an attempt to lift its economy. A critical look at this idea throws a lot of false flags on the field. A ski resort or world class casino holds no long term benefit without a stable government and society to attract steady outside clientele to recoup the loss from construction and upkeep. Despite how they have been portrayed in the media the Kim's aren't stupid or unaware of the modern world economy. Even though their current leader Kim Jung Un grew up an isolated child with a small army of teachers, tutors, cooks, assigned playmates, bodyguards, relatives, and chauffeurs. It is important to keep in mind that his adult education was abroad where he was taught alongside many of Europe's elite. So, why after inheriting an impoverished, isolated nation would he continue to build exclusive resorts? Who would frequent them enough to make it a profitable investment? The short answer is the elite.
Lifting the curtain you will find that North Korea is likely a secret playground for the rich and powerful. In reality the so called "Hermit State" is a premiere, exclusive destination for the powers that be to do whatever they please in comfort and secrecy. Every article about the "insane North" building world class spectacles for no one are a thinly vailed advertisement to the worlds powerful featuring, new luxury destination where international law doesn't exist. North Korea is known to have a slave population as well as large concentration camps to keep disinters silenced. It is not a hard stretch to imagine that the wealthy of the world would be happy to vacation in an enclosed environment where they can use others as they see fit. North Korea is also a giant "no fly zone" with a primitive population without access to modern technology such as internet, cell phones with cameras, or a free press with paparazzi to spy on and leak pics, and stories of how the elite spend their time.
The Norths isolated state and seeming lack of development creates the world's largest swath of untouched private space for people who want to be left alone to practice whatever vice or need they have...if the price is right. A satellite map of the north at night shows a massive privacy blackout that would allow even large scale activities to go undetected. The country also boasts some of the most pristine untouched wilderness on the planet offering an experience that can't be replicated anywhere else on earth. An environment like this would allow someone to do what they want despite conscience or international law. The possibilities are as endless as someone's imagination and credit score.
The North goes to great lengths to keep their resorts and patrons privacy unbroken by projecting an unstable public image to the rest of the world. The Kim's usual diversion is to have military drills a few times a year meanwhile whichever Kim who is currently in charge makes accusations about making war. The rest of the world lives in fear as the wealthy safely vacation in an environment that offers complete anonymity. The elite know that North Korea is essentially for sale. It is also certain that a lot of the Norths nuclear, bio, and Missile weapon testing are actually outsourced operations by other governments and corporations that are looking to hide from international law. North Korea offers not only a law free vacation but, a place for "defense" contractors to test new technology without regulation or consequence. We have all been had.
The Kim's are thriving at the cost of the poor much like a pimp or Mob boss does.