Lights on at North Korea's 105-storey hotel after rumoured visit by Egyptian CEO
Orascom head Naguib Sawiris is thought to have visited the Ryugyong, which his company helped to build
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The lights are on at North Korea's Ryugyong Hotel, the world's tallest unoccupied building.
Three rooms at the very top of the so-called 'hotel of doom', which is still not open and has seen a number of halts in construction over 29 years, were seen to be lit up in a grainy video.
An anonymous source told NK News it might have been due to a visit to Pyongyang by Naguib Sawiris, the chief executive of Orascom. The Egyptian telecommunications company previously carried out work on the building that included adding glass panels to the outside and a phone mast.
Peter Ward, a researcher based in South Korea, also told the site after the release of the October video: "I’m very surprised to see the top of the Ryugyong lit.
"Maybe Orascom did more than give the building a fresh plate of glass.
"The fact they have added an aircraft warning light is interesting, if slightly puzzling."
Work began on the imposing structure in 1987, but construction was stalled for 16 years after the money for the project ran out.
The 330m tower has a total of 3.9 million ft² floor space and should have initially opened in 1989.
At that time it would have been the tallest hotel in the world and the seventh largest skyscraper. Reports claim the building could have up to 3,000 rooms.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments