North Korea is working on creating what could be Asia's largest ski area to date according to reports from the country's news agency.
The country's leader Kim Jong Un was photographed visiting the site of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground where the North Korean Army have been working to create a ski area with 110km of piste as well as hotels, other facilities and even a heli pad.
Kim Jong Un climbed to the 1360m peak off the ski slopes and told workers that the ski area was well located in an area known for its natural snow cover and with good road access to the North Korean capital Pyongyang.
Kim Jong Un said the Party was determined to build the skiing ground into a world class one and called on the soldier-builders to accelerate the construction so that the skiing ground may be operational for the coming winter 2013-14.
He also gave instructions for better drainage, more first- aid stations on the slopes and lift operation monitoring while also underlined the need to preserve the ecological environment and prevent pollution while building the skiing ground.
North Koreans have been skiing since at least the 1980s on Mt Paektu near Lake Samjiyon which has comprehensive winter sports facilities including a ski jump at Pegaebong Sports Village.
Other countries in the region are also developing ski areas, if not on the scale of Masik Pass. Last winter a new ski area opened in China at Changbaishan close to the North Korean border.
Skiing is also popular in South Korea which will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.