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Inside North Korea's luxury ski resort where South Korean athletes will train before the Olympics

Ski lessons for children happen daily. Here, children learn to balance on the snow.

Inside North Korea's luxury ski resort where South Korean athletes will train before the Olympics

Young skiers prepare to be pulled to the top of the bunny slope.

Young skiers prepare to be pulled to the top of the bunny slope.

A large group of children taking part in a ski class ride a special convey-belt type track to climb part of the slope.

A large group of children taking part in a ski class ride a special convey-belt type track to climb part of the slope.

Here, a smaller group get pulled up the conveyor belt. There are two conveyor belts, one about 70 meters long, the other 20 meters.

Here, a smaller group get pulled up the conveyor belt. There are two conveyor belts, one about 70 meters long, the other 20 meters.

Skiing and snowboarding are not the only activities — visitors can also go sledding as well.

Skiing and snowboarding are not the only activities — visitors can also go sledding as well.

This ski gondola is imported from the Ischgl Silvretta resort in Austria. The indirect sale of the gondola, which came via China, may have constituted a UN luxury goods sanctions breach.

This ski gondola is imported from the Ischgl Silvretta resort in Austria. The indirect sale of the gondola, which came via China, may have constituted a UN luxury goods sanctions breach.

The resort also has a gondola from the same Austrian company.

The resort also has a gondola from the same Austrian company.

A label on the gondola imported from the Austrian Ischgl resort shows the name of the manufacturer: The gondola is a Doppelmayr detachable gondola system from the 1980s.

A label on the gondola imported from the Austrian Ischgl resort shows the name of the manufacturer: The gondola is a Doppelmayr detachable gondola system from the 1980s.

The resort also has Lynx snowmobiles that were manufactured in Finland — another example of sanction dodging.

The resort also has Lynx snowmobiles that were manufactured in Finland — another example of sanction dodging.

A child is ready to ride one of the resort's imported snowmobiles.

A child is ready to ride one of the resort

A TV screen at the bottom of the mountain plays videos for guests. There's a taped performance by the Moranbong band, a well known girl-group in the DPRK.

A TV screen at the bottom of the mountain plays videos for guests. There

On the left is the resort's main building, and the hotel stands on the right.

On the left is the resort

The entrance to the Masikryong Ski Resort's hotel looks as welcoming as any other ski resort in the world.

The entrance to the Masikryong Ski Resort

The resort has several restaurants. This one is located on the bottom floor beneath the ski hire station.

The resort has several restaurants. This one is located on the bottom floor beneath the ski hire station.

Italian Nordica skis and boots can be rented by visitors.

Italian Nordica skis and boots can be rented by visitors.

The stores sell everything from high end ski equipment to Colgate toothpaste — all of it imported.

The stores sell everything from high end ski equipment to Colgate toothpaste — all of it imported.

South Korean skiers will soon come to the resort and practice with North Korean athletes. Here, a male skier from the North Korean national ski team is training on the slopes.

South Korean skiers will soon come to the resort and practice with North Korean athletes. Here, a male skier from the North Korean national ski team is training on the slopes.

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