Culture > Design

Inside North Korea’s $750 Million Empty Hotel

North Korea's pyramid-like Ryugyong Hotel took about 30 years and $750 million to build.

By Matthew Reitman
May 28, 2016 4:00 am EDT
PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - AUGUST 24: A view of the Pyongyang cityscape, looking towards the Ryugyong Hotel Tower from Yanggakdo Hotel on August 24, 2015 in Pyongyang, North Korea. North and South Korea today came to an agreement to ease tensions following an exchange of artillery fire at the demilitarized border last week. (Photo by Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images)
PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - AUGUST 24: A view of the Pyongyang cityscape, looking towards the Ryugyong Hotel Tower from Yanggakdo Hotel on August 24, 2015 in Pyongyang, North Korea. North and South Korea today came to an agreement to ease tensions following an exchange of artillery fire at the demilitarized border last week. (Photo by Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images)
PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - AUGUST 24: A view of the Pyongyang cityscape, looking towards the Ryugyong Hotel Tower from Yanggakdo Hotel on August 24, 2015 in Pyongyang, North Korea. North and South Korea today came to an agreement to ease tensions following an exchange of artillery fire at the demilitarized border last week. (Photo by Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images)
(Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images)

North Korea’s pyramid-like Ryugyong Hotel took about 30 years and $750 million to build. The strangest part? It’s empty. Only one tour group was allowed inside the hotel in 2012. See the photos below. Learn more about the Ryugyong Hotel here.

(Koryo Group)
(Koryo Group)
Matthew Reitman

Matthew Reitman

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