Sometimes Interesting

North Korea has not historically been known for progress or leading the world in anything. In the mid-1980s they wanted to change that by building something massive, something that would be world-renowned. The project would symbolize progress for North Korea and introduce new, Western investors. It was decided to build a hotel – taller than any in the world  – and in 1987 construction on the Ryugyong Hotel began.

It was intended to be completed in 1989 in time for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students, but developers would face nearly every conceivable hurdle and by 1992 the project was abandoned. Read more…