North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, reports that scientists and educators have started to move into a 25-floor high-rise condominium building previously planned to be a casino in Sinŭiju City, located on the Chinese border.
The high-rise comprises two towers surrounded by a brick, elliptical shaped main building meant as an image of the sun to represent Kim Il-Sung, the founder of North Korea.
It was originally planned as a casino-hotel targeting Chinese tourists, but these plans changed after complaints by the Chinese government. Now it will serve as residences for scientists and teachers.
North Korea wants to bring in foreign currency through a casino aimed at foreign tourists. China accounts for 95% of North Korea’s foreign trade.
