North Korea's Failed Megaprojects

[@Outside85]

It is kinda amusing to me that their megaprojects are all hotels and aimed at attracting tourists... when you consider that North Korea is right up along side with Afghanistan as places most people wouldn't dream of visiting, due to the high likelihood of not being able to leave again.

[@andromidius]

Probably aimed at Russian and Chinese tourists.

[@RedXlV]

@@andromidius There's also some Americans who go to North Korea to look down on the peasants.

[@johnmiller8975]

@@RedXlV the last one who tried that did not leave in one piece

[@NickThePilotUSA]

@@johnmiller8975he left in one piece, a piece of vegetable

[@tomcollins5112]

@@andromidius Made by bad people for bad people, now just a worthless pile of rubble.

[@harrymorris2361]

“Failed North Korean megaprojects” Simon, do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?

[@tagomisan2865]

As little as the homeless population in the United States and the people living on foodstamps

[@ManiaMac1613]

@@tagomisan2865 The poorest person in the United States is better fed than the average North Korean citizen

[@BoostedAkatsukiRiffs]

@@tagomisan2865 Even our homeless eat better than North Korean citizens

[@shekelmcfreckle]

@@tagomisan2865you replied to a comment about North Korea on a video solely about North Korea, produced by a Brit. And your first instinct is to whatabout the USA. Lmao. You’re obsessed, you can’t keep it off your envious little tongue. Success breeds contempt

[@simonbone]

There are only two listed here.

[@BoxJockey]

Places I don't want to vacation: 1) North Korea 2) Titanic Wreck

[@fredk.2001]

I'd rather go to the Titanic wreck. Just not in an expired, de-rated pop-can sub.

[@Aligartornator13]

I once talked to an engineer from east Germany who worked at the hotel in the late 80s as part of a exchange program between socialist countries (or something like this). He said for the price of 750 mio. US$ the building should have been easily finished. North Korea has it's own steel and concrete industry and the cost of labour is pretty much zero. The problem was apparently an insane level of corruption and misuse of funds where everyone and their grandma wanted to be bribed to do anything and government officials just moving the decimal dot (or comma, don't know what they use) to the right to literally pocket 90% of the money. Also the military would randomly confiscate material and machines never to be seen again. More over, the north korean workers who were organized in bataillons would be regularly assigned totally pointless jobs like brooming the roads when a foreign leader was visiting Pjongjang.

[@shudipjoy]

This are another Mega Projects kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJDEoZp5pNmkraM

[@Real_SkyRipper]

makes sense, corruption was the silent killer of communism

[@realjmferguson_]

The reason why the hotel was not finished was communism’s economic illiteracy.

[@DeathMetalMusic-SavedMe]

​@@Real_SkyRipper what is with the word "was", should be "IS", 😊😊👋👋🇦🇺🇦🇺🤠

[@HkFinn83]

@@DeathMetalMusic-SavedMedunno if you’ve heard, but there was a little reorganisation of things in the early 90’s😂

[@deeya]

I loved how in all propo photos of Kim visiting the many, many projects and initiatives he has in his country, he's followed by an entourage of his generals, scribbling on notepads like it matters. There has been no greater depiction of "the boss is here, look busy". Seriously, why are the bottlecap (their medals) generals overseeing the progress of a beach resort project?

[@shudipjoy]

This are another Mega Projects kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJDEoZp5pNmkraM

[@jameskiehm546]

Exactly my thought. Why would you have your incompetent generals building resorts? They look like they’re 90 years old but likely only 50.

[@cleanerben9636]

they're probs only 30 lol. Heck, they were probably shot or fed to wild dogs after the photoshoot to save on feeding them.@@jameskiehm546

[@ParkDari]

Because men go straight into the military for 10yrs after high school, but it isn’t really military, it is the government construction workforce. Then you get out of military get married have kids doing the job the gov gives you for the rest of your life. You can not visit outside your province or move from your province without government permission, which essentially never happens. NK is virtually the largest prison on the planet, less than 100 people were able to escape last year. The border is 100% walled, mined, camera’d, with shooting towers and jammers every so many meters to prevent broadcast or reception of any information.

[@tomlxyz]

​@@jameskiehm546loyalty is more important to a dictator than competence. High competence also often led to that person being removed, as to not outshine the leader

[@doclewis8927]

Am I the only one who's suspicious of the fact that it never looks like plumbing, gas, sewage, and water lines are not installed PRIOR to the buildings being built? Shouldn't there be all types of lines put down BEFORE you start buildiing? It always looks like they just clear the spaces, build the buildings, and the roads then "pretend" that the whole thing is going to actually be for humans to occupy.

[@miscme6046]

thats what id expect yea. harder to dig under a building then to dig then build.

[@arthas640]

That "makes sense" and is "practical" but doesnt look nearly as flashy so instead they focus on the most obvious parts of the building first like the main structure and windows. it's all about posturing so those practical aspects are more of an afterthought

[@DimaRakesah]

Absolutely. In NK, a lot of things are just a facade. Either figuratively or literally. LOOKING successful and prosperous is more important than laying down the systems for true success.

[@mtscldstankie4048]

Yeah, they spend their limited resources due to sanctions just to fool you. "Am I the only one...?" 😂😂😂😂😂 Of course you're not "the only one" since those kind of lies are spread everywhere in the media and social media. You know you're not the only one, you just want attention.

[@daniels.2720]

At this point - I couldnt, and wouldnt think N.Korea could finish a Lego project, even if you gave them all the pieces...

[@WindTurbineSyndrome]

Well they built a nuclear arsenal and the world's largest concentration camps outside of Western China.

[@wesnohathas1993]

Depends on if it can be used as a weapon

[@11sfr]

North Korea's entire GDP is equal to about 1.5 months of business for Samsung Electronics, and theyre trying to run a whole country complete with a nuclear armed submarine fleet, its not a surprise they bite off more than they can afford to chew

[@mvb88]

They do have 2 GDP's. Russia kinda props the country up. Hince why South Korea took off and north Korea failed. South Korea was told to look after themselves. North Korea was told Russia will look after them. So they are being paid monthly by Russia

[@Ellie-rx3jt]

Labour costs are very low though, especially when you have a certain percentage of your population doing forced labour

[@stephenconnolly3018]

One man rich and all the rest poor.

[@arthas640]

​@@mvb88when you look at the Soviet oil and mineral industries and where the money went its downright hilarious how much of a house of cards communism is. Every time the oil industry dipped the Soviets and their allies showed serious problems and when oil prices went up they went back to being functional states, but most of the communist world was reliant on Soviet subsidies and the minute those dried up suddenly communist governments fell like dominoes. Soviet heavy industry turned out to be a joke as it was horribly inefficient and propped up by oil income. Much like modern Russia they're basically a petro state.

[@vaniog29]

They can chew it , their people can't

[@GlenHunt]

I swear every time I see the immense statues of the dear leaders, I immediately think of the statues of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. Come to think of it, Disney could easily do a better job of running North Korea.

[@stardolphin2]

Though Walt wouldnt've been interested. When asked if he'd run for political office; "What for? I'm already King of Disneyland!"

[@GlenHunt]

@@stardolphin2 Perfect. I love that.

[@MomMom4Cubs]

I doubt it, as Walt Disney was a virulent racist.

[@banditlord8210]

Well given the competition a rock could run North Korea better

[@mehrcat1]

NK already is a Mickey Mouse country.

[@chrism1102]

I was in North Korea in 2012. Every hotel we stayed at was half empty. The Ryanggang hotel had a revolving restaurant that didn't revolve. We were stuck in the elevator twice because of power cuts. Hot water was limited to 1 hour in the morning and evening.

[@muppetb.lansing8374]

​@@jtsct Because not everyone believes that "thar be dragons" in the rest of the world (like most sheltered US citizens)

[@ericsmith8373]

Is that the one which is supposed to be a 6 star hotel. And it's pretty much on par with a Motel 6.

[@mwangikimani3970]

For a country that has been on the receiving end of brutal US sanctions it's actually done pretty decently for itself. Produces nuclear energy and weapons, is more industrialized than Portugal, Greece or Ireland, had to create it's own pharmaceutical sector. Of course the propaganda fed to Westerners is extreme but for the few people who have lived there longer than a tourist visit it is a country that has existed against all odds. The irony of meeting Westerners is that they are the most brainwashed slaves on earth yet they hardly know it. They are slaves who can't see their own shackles.

[@Joaquin546]

@@muppetb.lansing8374lol who cares about dragons be worried about some North Korean jackboot putting jumper cables to your balls! It's should say something when a US citizen was worked to death.

[@Joaquin546]

@@mwangikimani3970😂😂😂 if North Korea is so great and all the lies from the west are that why not go there?

[@ikonic_artworks]

Who the hell considers visiting or vacationing North Korea recreationally lol

[@Rcampo42]

Traitors, to communist numskulls

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

Rich Chinese people

[@SOASwig]

Thousands of people every year

[@jwenting]

Right now, I consider my chances of coming back alive from North Korea greater than those of coming back alive from the USA. Still doesn't make me eager to go there, but it's starting to become somewhat appealing.

[@PhenomRom]

@@SOASwigwho

[@victoriachasse6224]

I love how Simon's voice is full of mocking laughter and sarcasm the entire video 😅😅

[@lynnettecottrell6542]

One of the reasons I watch his videos

[@blackcountryme]

Yep, it's called English... we are good at that

[@653j521]

@@blackcountryme No it isn't. That is beyond ignorant, but maybe you are good at that, too.

[@MissBlueEyeliner]

It doesn’t get more dystopian than having propaganda cartoons played for the public on a 105 floor building that’s intimidating on the outside and empty on the inside.

[@daffers2345]

It'd be fascinating in a fictional book of a dystopian reality. In real life, it's just sickening. :/

[@cleanerben9636]

I think the building looks good tbh

[@schlippschliddley]

lol it doesn’t get more dystopian than that? NPC detected xD

[@CarrionCrow993]

Apparently it turns off when the important visitors leave, and Pyongyang goes dark again.

[@handyandyaus]

The glee with which you present this video is just glorious. :D

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

Just imagine if they spent that money on things that actually matter. They could have had been almost respected nation at this point rather than a laughingstock with a human muppet as a dictator.

[@jackolantern404]

The fact they think Westerners want to ever visit their dictatorship shows just how insanely delusional this regime is 😅😂

[@lordmontymord8701]

Thats right for most people, but i think there would still be enough to reach their one million-goal. Thing is we already have resorts like this in countries that are not exactly nice to their own people (even if there is no one beating NK in that regard). And their concept works. You don't see the real country except maybe some bus tours to important locations and the rest of the time you are in the resort which of course is nothing like the rest of their cities. And there you have amenities the people usually don't have (like alcohol in coutries where that's normally illegal). Personally i'm not interested in something like this but there are many people love such resorts. And if the price isn't too high they would even go to NK, especially just to say they visited the country (even if they didn't really) ...

[@tomhenry897]

Not really Cheap labor No safety or epa Hookers

[@katanabluejay]

I think targeted to Chinese and Russian tourists

[@jackolantern404]

@@katanabluejay thats not "Westerners"

[@jackolantern404]

@@tomhenry897 none of that gives me any incentive to vacation there..

[@Akira625]

Authoritarian rulers are in love with these kinds of grandiose pet projects that serve as monuments to their egos.

[@noldo3837]

Why does it remind me Elmo Musk or Jeff Bazos?

[@subtlewhatssubtle]

I've seen a few videos purportedly from tourists to North Korea who showed how their nearly antique in-hotel TVs and other electronic devices had enough cables in them to look like IT spaghetti. I wouldn't be surprised if the bedbugs had little microphones on them at this rate. How they expect to attract tourists while spying this hard on them is anyone's guess.

[@Americanpatriot-zo2tk]

🦟

[@RK-zf1jm]

They do have microphones in the rooms bbc did a documentary holidays in the axis of evil and yeah the rooms are bugged and they even interview a yank who got arrested for asking his tour guide how come your leader is so fat when your all starving he got six months in prison

[@w.reidripley1968]

At least one defector author has remarked that DPRK is built more like a counterintelligence agency than a state.

[@Theel25]

I like how the only really successful accomplishment the country ever made was making statues and monuments dedicated to their leaders. Does show that whoever is in charge gets the say at what gets done, the rest is up to the scraps.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

That's not true. We've created a missile program despite sanctions, built a huge dam that costed billions, and built monuments for other countries around the world.

[@brandongaines1731]

​@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un you say that you've built monuments for other countries? Name one.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

@@brandongaines1731 African Renaissance Monument in Senegal, the largest monument in Africa! We've built several things around the world through our Mansudae Overseas Projects, like the Tiglachin Monument in Ethiopia and the Three Dikgosi Monument in Botswana.

[@PinkSakuraBunnie]

​@@SupremeLeaderKimJong-unfat load of good missiles do for starving ppl. 😕 To be fair, if sanctions weren't in place, NK would probably be doing a lot better, but nuclear weapons are more important to the leader, so the sanctions remain (and I can't blame other countries for doing them either).

[@AcornElectron]

Go on then Whistle boy, entertain us!

[@KaptajnKaffe]

Whistle for us!

[@Yupppi]

Great strategy. I'm sure people will be rushing to have a vacation in North Korea. One of the most attractive countries to visit.

[@vehicles_n_stuff]

It’s so nice they’ll never leave

[@go4brookle761]

They’ll leave but in a coma like Otto.

[@leehill9922]

You'll become long pork.

[@GuitarGuy4647]

I’d go.

[@ahhlucas]

@@GuitarGuy4647why 💀

[@marjieestivill]

And so sad that their attempt at megaprojects only made the “Side Projects” show!

[@BaronVonQuiply]

It had a Geographics video, too

[@PaulTheFox1988]

It's a meagre-project then? 😂

[@Henchman_Holding_Wrench]

Like that disheveled gambler with the remainder of his savings in his hand muttering, "This is the roll. This one will change everything!"

[@RetroTaylor94]

Staying in North Korean hotels is great! You get to pet wild dogs right in your room, and anything you need can be brought to you immediately since they're watching and listening to you for your entire stay! The sweeping view of unfinished buildings is only beat by the sight of their famous dirt farms and hunger competitions.

[@Nexus6662]

I am just sad for the people living there.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Another instance of the DPRK outdoing South Korea when it comes to height is flagpoles. In the 1980s, the South Korean/ROK government built a 99.8 m (327 ft) flagpole in Daeseong-dong, which flies the ROK flag weighing 130 kilograms (287 pounds). Naturally, the DPRK responded by building an even taller one, the Panmunjom flagpole, at 160 m (525 ft) with a 270 kg (595 pounds) flag in the village of Kijong-dong. For over a decade, the flagpole was the tallest supported flagpole in the world. But in 2010, Azerbaijan took the record as they built one in Baku at 162 m (531 ft). Currently, the Panmunjom flagpole is the sixth-tallest flagpole in the world. And another famous megaproject is of course our Rungrado 1st of May Stadium. After the 1988 Summer Olympics had been awarded to Seoul, the DPRK intensified its efforts to present itself as the legitimate Korean state. As part of these efforts, it successfully bid to organize the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang in 1989. Massive construction projects were initiated in preparation for the festival, one of which was the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium. It has a capacity of 114,000 and is home to the Arirang Mass Games, which is the world's largest gymnastics display. It was the world's largest stadium from 1989 to 2020 when India rebuilt Motera Stadium and renamed it Narendra Modi Stadium.

[@stringalongmike1953]

Greetings Dear Supreme Glorious Leader!!!! Long time, no see.

[@jonnywatts2970]

Meanwhile their citizens starve to death...

[@WileyCylas]

Thank u dear leader for that elaboration

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

It's almost like you're trying to make up for something, Kimmy-boy.

[@videre8884]

Bon appetit Kim Kong

[@LumpyFPV]

A giant super close runway paralleling the beach and resort?! SEEMS SUPER AWESOME. 🥴👍🏼

[@rabidkoalaz]

I love these videos because they make my own failures seem so small in comparison.

[@kriscerosaurus]

"Worker turnover" just reads different in the context of some places.

[@flexinclouds]

Yeah theyre not paid, barely fed, and are then worked to death😕 Turnover is a nicer way to put it

[@Kaltagstar96]

The fact that the Kim Dynasty can't afford to feed their own people but they can splurge massive amounts of money on these failed "megaprojects" is fucking insane.

[@MosoKaiser]

Priorities... Priorities, man.

[@michaelhowell2326]

That's communism

[@tessiepinkman]

@@michaelhowell2326 Nothing that's going on in North Korea has anything to do with communism. What about reading up on the subject before you fall for the lie?

[@PinkSakuraBunnie]

​@@michaelhowell2326NK is not practicing communism. Neither is China for the record despite the name of their gov in power (they have stated they are the Chinese Communist Party bc getting to communism one day is their goal so they say). They are as communist as North Korea is democratic (they call themselves the Democratic ppls republic of KR despite) or the Nazi's were socialists (they weren't despite their party name, they killed actual socialists and communists). The only thing these regimes are are dictatorships, often with fascism and capitalism as well.

[@tomhenry897]

A democrat

[@tammyhollandaise]

An amusing instance of North Korean business dealings was an order of 1000 Volvos from Sweden back in the 1970s. Volvo agreed to the order, delivered it, then North Korea decided to not pay up. It is now known as the largest car theft in history.

[@Aligartornator13]

They also bought a used Mercedes 190 from Thailand and copied it as Kaengsaeng 88.

[@willissudweeks1050]

Thanks for mentioning that I’m looking it up

[@0rrrev]

Don’t forget all the directors they kidnapped to make propaganda movies lol

[@dx1450]

The major problem as I see it is anyone in the North Korean government thinking that anyone really wants to visit or invest in North Korea.

[@ducknorris233]

Kim- can I borrow money for a hotel? World- how do we know you won’t spend this money on nukes? Kim- oh, I got nuke money

[@bazzer621]

Can't believe that it's only an eleven minute video! Would have thought that it would have been at least 2 hours long 😂😂😂

[@urbanurchin5930]

Likely, very difficult to acquire information on anything else.

[@crying2emoji5]

On an off hand I kinda dig the triangle/pyramid like architecture they keep going for with these failed hotels

[@LaxianKey1]

You pretend to pay us, we pretend to work...

[@sandybruce9092]

Way back when my husband was a working aerospace engineer, he would need to fly to Taiwan many times - but the pilots had to be extremely careful about where they flew as it was very easy to just muck a corner of North Korea - which did happen once! Luckily the plane was not shot down!!

[@matthew_natividad]

Jesus they must really hate flybys

[@EAWanderer]

01:39 - A Japanese lounge is where Geishas live and ply their trade 😂😂 We in the west call our equivalent....Brothels!

[@SkunkApe407]

Nah, that's just Kiki's house.

[@drcovell]

A true “Geisha House” is *NOT* a brothel. The word “Geisha” means “”Skilled Person.” These women have spent years learning traditional Japanese arts of entertainment, such as the *Samisen* or *Koto* as well dance and songs. Sex with the Customers is NOT requisite part of it.

[@tessiepinkman]

Even if I got a fully paid, all-inclusive trip to North Korea *nobody* could make me go. I'm way to curious for my own good and I swear I'd be screened and jailed in a heartbeat for asking something I think is completely normal, or just going on a walk and end up somewhere they wouldn't like. And then I have a huge problem with keeping my mouth shut when I see things that I think is deeply unfair, and that whole country is nothing if not *deeply fucking unfair* - so I'd probably come back from that trip in a coffin.

[@nancycurtis7315]

You sound like an Aussie! They can shove their country. I'm staying home!

[@funtechu]

Yeah, after what they did to Otto Warmbier, they've put a real wedge in their tourism economy.

[@lordmontymord8701]

I'm sure the risk of going somewhere they don't want you to go is relatively small in this case. If this resort will ever be opened it will be surely cut off from the rest of the country, which wouldn't make it look better, but that doesn't matter. This is why the airport makes extra sense in this case. It will be probably the only way for the tourists in and out. Nobody inside is allowed to see the actual NK and all the things that might not be very nice ... on the other hand their own people are not allowed in except for the workers. So even if someone wants to see the country they won't - at least not really ...

[@dx1450]

Well, for one thing, you won't be allowed to just wander around. The way tourism is there now (or was before the pandemic) is that any Western tourists, at least, could only go where their guides took them. They'd take tourists out to see a bunch of staged stuff, like a farm with a bunch of successfully grown crops, but not to an actual farm with dying crops. There's no way they'll ever let someone see the real North Korea.

[@clamcrewcarclub6017]

@@dx1450I think she meant like a Otto warmbier situation where he went to a floor of the hotel he wasn’t supposed to be on and taking a propaganda poster off the wall as a souvenir Yeah he died

[@billotto602]

It's really the saddest of all stories of what the North Korean government has done to It's people. The Kim family puts all other dictators pale in comparison. I remember reading an article about North Korean refugees & how, because of the lack of proper nutrition, are all considerably smaller than their South Korean counterparts. May God have mercy on their souls (the people, not their government). 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@lukejohnston7785]

Dude you have so many amazing channels, I love it 😊

[@InterstellarTaco]

Now please do the new MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. Seems like a good Megaproject.

[@QBCPerdition]

I was just thinking of this. My wife and I are going there later this year to see U2, and I've been looking at videos of it lately.

[@InterstellarTaco]

@QBCPerdition I saw it December on 2021 when it was under construction. Had no idea what it was until I saw videos of it recently all lit up. It's pretty cool

[@Corum.z.Dunajca]

Airport 500 m from your hotel and Beach? Perfect place for rest 😆😆😆😆😆

[@scbtripwire]

The fact they just pretend it doesn't exist is hilariously pathetic. Ew! I would never go to that beach after learning it had been covered in faeces... all it takes is one missed and covered pile and your day is ruined.

[@petermartin9494]

What a tragedy for Korea and the Korean people that they were used as pawns and their country split. It is beyond sad.

[@AB-gj8re]

No bro come on bro they did it to themselves dude! It has absolutely nothing to do with the entire western world barring them from any participation from the get go forcing the government to become this insane military state that thinks everybody is trying to kill them (everybody is trying to kill them)

[@shudipjoy]

This are another Mega Projects kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJDEoZp5pNmkraM

[@tim3172]

It's impressive how you can simplify the Korean conflict down well past the point of a braindead take.

[@w.reidripley1968]

Go further: Hyper-Stalinism Kills.

[@cleanerben9636]

All socialism eventually ends up this way.@@w.reidripley1968

[@ujustgotpwned2008]

Lol I love the opening of this one, with Simon's head popping out of the centre of the screen like he's Porky Pig at the end of a WB cartoon.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

A megaproject they've completed successfully is the Nampo Dam. It was built by the Korean People's Army from 1981 to 1986, with the resources of the whole country directed to this big construction project during this time. It's located 15 km west of the special city of Nampo on the Taedong River which is the country's most important river. It closes off the Taedong from the Yellow Sea. Why? Because their goal was the prevention of seawater intrusion into the fresh water, thus solving the water supply problem as well as the irrigation of additional land, enlarging the arable territory of the region. It is a large, eight-km-long system of dams, three lock chambers, and 36 sluices, allowing the passage of ships up to 50,000 tons! The West Sea Barrage non-electrified railway line (which goes between Cholgwang and Sillyongri in Nampo) of the Korean State Railway also runs right across the dam! It was built at a cost of four billion US Dollars, and it's an achievement they are quite proud of as it's shown in many North Korea music videos as well as a backdrop for KCTV news segments. And of course, they take tourists there too!

[@TheKrausenKid]

How many unpaid people uprooted from their homes died building it?

[@johnmiller8975]

So a moderately successful white sea canal then. lovely

[@rich-qk7dc]

Thanks to Russia who paid for it

[@scotttaylor8498]

North Korea skyscraper looks like a freaking housing project lmao lol.

[@hansofaxalia]

Reading about NK is so surreal. From the parasite epidemics resulting from overusing human fertilizer, to the tallest building in the capital city being abandoned. The entire state is almost a parody of the faults of authoritarianism

[@grundged]

Can't wait to visit! 😊

[@j.p.6932]

1:48 it is so freaking ugly (and impractical). Update: Ok; it does look a lot better with glass on the outside; but it’s still impractical.

[@timehaley]

I can't imagine one of the most repressive governments in the world having problems drawing tourist?

[@samuelconnolly347]

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have little issue attracting tourists, especially the latter. I appreciate they're not quite on the same scale of oppressive as North Korea, but they're not great. It's amazing what can be accomplished when all the dodgy stuff is kept out of sight.

[@Itried20takennames]

I don’t think Saudi Arabia is a big Western tourist spot…..never heard of any one from the US vacationing there. But N. Korea is worse, especially after Otto Wormbier?! Warmbier?? He was a young man from the US (I think) who visited N. Korea with an “extreme tourism group,” was imprisoned for supposedly stealing a poster…which was made him a “Western spy trying to destroy N. Korea,” was given a show trial and long prison sentence, then suddenly released home….because he was in a coma and dying. He never spoke and passed away shortly after.

[@timehaley]

@@Itried20takennames Yeah, I know all about it. It strikes me as insane that anyone especially an American would go there.

[@EmiStar070]

​@@samuelconnolly347 Dubai is a tourist spot solely because filthy rich "expats" benefit from the massive corruption and what is functionally a 3 class caste system of rich>native>immigrant when 90% of the city is functionally enslaved immigrants It's a gilded hell of oil money, and north Korea would have to figure out how to gild it's public image first. And they don't allow international social media.

[@noahbawdy3395]

I love the titles of some of these segments :D

[@Josh-jy6hg]

How many channels does this guy have/ is affiliated with.. I've seen him more times than I've seen my dad at this point

[@chrisrobinson679]

NK makes me think of someone playing Civilization who doesnt quite know the rules, and makes a lot of bad decisions.

[@Т1000-м1и]

It all gives off an atmosphere of a little kid mirroring their parents

[@SuperSunayan]

Will u plz make a biographics video please

[@stardolphin2]

So this is Dubai...without the money.

[@rtonib2103]

Thoroughly enjoyed that into, great man

[@dynamicascension981]

North korea's current failed mega project: North korea

[@Zak6959]

Come, check out this hotel, come check out this beach, come check out the nuclear missile launch test? yeah I’ll get right on top of that. Various countries over the years have paying them off to not develop nuclear weapons. At this point I wouldn’t give them 20 bucks to change a tire.

[@AMAli-ct5df]

Kim jun:This should be on the megaprojects channel 😂

[@JPriz416]

Who in their right mind would choose North Korea as a fun get away. Maybe North Korea could use the people who designed their nuclear weapons to build tourist sites.

[@TMBpk]

I would go to visit - it’s better to be open minded than a slave of western propaganda. Go see the country yourself and make a decision on your own about how good or bad it is.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

Why anyone would want to visit is a mystery to me

[@marktg98]

Because some people actually want to see the world.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Because we're a unique place. Unlike the south, we've kept our culture and language intact.

[@Fizz-Pop]

@@marktg98 Some people want to to be POWs

[@australien6611]

​@@SupremeLeaderKimJong-unan absolute shit hole

[@darlenefraser3022]

To understand other cultures and not stay home with your head in the sand

[@WaywardVet]

I actually work in a building like that hotel. So poorly designed the skyscraper lists a bit because the materials used... well, you got what you paid for.

[@bazzer124]

It's sad, really. Imagine how many disappointed people wake up each and every day saying, "Y'know, I really, really wanted to vacation in the oppressive totalitarian regime of North Korea." Cheers....

[@adamfnandf]

Simon Whistler = 🐐 of infotainment KZbin

[@Nathan-vt1jz]

I enjoyed the mega projects channel plug at the beginning.

[@freddiemercury2075]

I see Simon everywhere. But I am not complaining. I just hope to see him more.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:50 - Chapter 1 - The hotel of doom 7:05 - Chapter 2 - Wonsan - kalma beach resort

[@MidnightBreezey]

That building was used in the background of a Netflix B-movie I saw a few years back. The context was that a group of people found a building that could jump through realities and they jumped into a version of New York City that was "20 years more advanced than us".

[@luke8838]

Can't even make fun of North Korea this is just painfully sad

[@mtscldstankie4048]

Sad is western propaganda

[@luke8838]

@@mtscldstankie4048 Yeah because NK is secretly Wakanda

[@optimus3305]

Love the videos but as fast as you speak those whisper moments make me have to scan back and turn the volume up, back er down a few syllables a second bro.

[@S-Ltd1000]

Kim Jong Un looking at things.😂

[@TokyoRavage]

Ahh yes an expensive disco ball for a building

[@Hammerhead547]

Fun Fact: The Ryugyong Hotel was featured in Mecenaries: World On Fire. It was the site of the first major boss battle and the player had to destroy it using a fuel air bomb.

[@darthtac]

Am I the only one getting Dr. Evil vibes from the Hotel of Doom?

[@handyandyaus]

Simon, please, please, please tell us what a 'Japanese lounge' is?

[@neoqwerty]

el broth. with red lights. and a boss you call "Madamme".

[@handyandyaus]

@@neoqwerty Well, that's obvious, but I'd prefer Simon told us.

[@jeremiaoksoktaruk3841]

20 dollars to anybody that can land on Kim jong-un head

[@locoHAWAIIANkane]

Hitler must’ve been a consultant in the projects. 😂😂😂

[@Freelancer-Alpha-2-1]

I would actually love to see a video of sideprojects which the DPRK did complete, there must be something that a government like that must have acheived through sheer force of "will", I mean oppressive coercion, that's radical or impressive??

[@ChuckDanger]

Pretty sizeable minefield I'm sure.

[@Demitry0013]

It's just nukes and ICBMs...that's literally where all their money goes trying to keep their military relevant and the upkeep so that if they do start something they won't be wiped away like a bad pot of Texas red...

[@Diverball1]

I suspect that all of the impressive ones are military, so you’ll never see them unless the regime falls. There’s supposed to be a great many underground air force bases, including a handful of runways that run through mountains.

[@SpadeDraco]

@@Diverball1 Think they technically have the largest fleet of submarines in the world.

[@Diverball1]

@@SpadeDraco Technically. However most of them are less than 40m long, and only used for landing special forces. The rest are fifty-year-old Romeo-class derivatives.

[@itsmychannel]

Nothing screams a transparent government than having enough megaprojects that you create the exterior and never actually start the interior to create a whole video within one persons lifetime.

[@drschuess1624]

Is that a North Korean Hollywood sign I see? 3:44

[@CrochetIsLife54]

A 105-story billboard! 🤣😂🤣 Beach resort: here’s an idea: complete one thing at a time. Make a modest hotel, a restaurant, and a small shopping center. Start generating some revenue in one corner. Then build another piece. Over the decades, you will end up with a quality resort. You don’t need to build the entire thing in one go!

[@olofinrobunmi1172]

The ryugyong hotel looks like an alien space ship about to take off😂😂😂

[@jasondrew5768]

lol, the beach RESORT WILL NEVER GET DONE!!

[@jrgordon47]

First Ferengi rule of business, right after profit, which as we all know is the definition of "business" is DON'T kill the investors... at no right away...

[@bakerman42]

I see the military wears lots of hats, Generals do it all, they are resort builders, auto mechanics, bakers, bus drivers and any other jobs needing help.

[@dkakito]

Why would any soul WILLINGLY go to North Korea?!?

[@SpadeDraco]

They actually have a small tourism industry.

[@dkakito]

@@SpadeDraco Be that as it may. My Original Question stands. lol

[@car_shots_by_filip]

This was almost mind-blowing

[@exportedafrican]

How are those Chevy trucks getting to North Korea? Plenty in those pictures..

[@reynard2ki]

I heard that CPAC wants to hold their next convention there.

[@Lords1997]

The hotel of doom is just a huge billboard kekw

[@bluegold1026]

HTF hasn't the North Korean government been overthrown yet from all this wasteful spending, I haven't a clue. When people are desperate, they will go to extreme lengths.

[@justinspriggs2979]

Because the people are disarmed and fed nothing but state propaganda media.

[@watcherit1311]

For the same reason why Russian or any other dictator government is not overthrown - people are too scared and indoctrinated to make a change

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

When you're hungry and have a family you're just trying to survive.

[@kurousagi8155]

NK is so incredibly brainwashed. They know they are starving, but blame the Americans for it. They also think that, though they are starving, that everyone else in the world has it worse off than they do.

[@tomhenry897]

Only government has guns

[@angelitabecerra]

Yes, because I want nothing more than to visit North Korea. It's totally a safe tourist destination and I'd never have to worry about my safety and ability to return home 🙄

[@tkskagen]

Simon and Kevin are "today's equivalent" of the WONDER TWINS of the early 1980s!

[@dylanjwicklund92]

I love to stay in the death hotel if it ever got finished it looks so insane and cool

[@Old-ded-memes]

North Korea is the real life adaptation of a failed Cities: Skylines playthrough

[@aliceadairgeorge]

My main concern is how to recover from all of these economic and geopolitical problems and stay afloat, especially with the political power conflict in the United States.

[@frankielourenco]

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[@anamariagomez9733]

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[@frankielourenco]

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[@anamariagomez9733]

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[@Michael66572]

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[@aronolafsson8256]

A lot of these projects are like irl Minecraft buildings. Just hollow buildings to pretend people will be there lol

[@Saturn_2138]

lol