Go inside the North Korean ski field where South Korea will join the North for Winter Olympics training

North Korean students gather at the peak while skiing at the new Masik Pass Ski Resort January 29, 2014Jean H. Lee/Getty Images

As part of historic talks, North and South Korea have agreed to participate in joint ski training at North Korea's Masikryong Ski Resort, ahead of next month's Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

Though South Korea won't be sending any of its Olympians — national reserves and promising youth skiers are its most likely candidates — it will have to navigate UN sanctions that prohibit payments to North Korea for things like accommodation and other expenses.

But intrigue surrounds Masikryong.

Work began on the resort in 2013, two years after South Korea was chosen to host the Games.

The giant ski resort appears to be a crucial part of Kim Jong Un's plan to expand leisure facilities across the country, in hopes of raising standards of living.Beach resorts and water parks have already proved popular for locals who can afford the luxury.

Take a look at what it's like to hit the slopes in North Korea.

Masikryong Ski Resort is a pet-project of Kim Jong Un, who is believed to have developed a love for skiing while studying in Switzerland as a teenager.

KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/Getty Images

Source: Reuters



The resort, also known as Masik Pass, is a two-hour drive east of Pyongyang and close to the port city Wonsan. It cost an estimated $30 million.

ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images

Source: The Guardian



There are nine main runs for experienced skiers and two slopes for beginners. One run is more than 5 kilometers long.

ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images

Source: Koryo Group




See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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