North Korea Opens New Pyongyang Airport Terminal Whose Design Once Irked Kim Jong Un

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was once unhappy with its design, and his displeasure allegedly led to the execution of its principal designer last year, but despite all hurdles, the country’s new airport terminal in Pyongyang is now open for public. The terminal 2 of Pyongyang International Airport, which is reserved for international civilian flights, was inaugurated on Wednesday, state media reported.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released 42 images of the newly built terminal, hailing it as “unremitting efforts” of Kim to put North Korea’s aerial transport on the global map. The airport terminal was opened a week after KCNA published photos of Kim and his wife touring the new facility, which reportedly features a jewelry store, coffee bar, a pharmacy, a chocolate fountain and other luxury amenities.

“The terminal was built in a modern way from the gatepost to the airport to departure lounge, entry formalities hall, service halls, etc. and it has various kinds of service networks necessary for business, public catering, information and medical treatment and all other amenities,” ​ KCNA reported.

Kim, who called for the construction of the terminal in July 2012, was initially unhappy with the design. He ordered officials to partly demolish the new facility and rebuild it after he said that the layout looked like “a copy” of a foreign airport, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

“Defects were manifested in the last phase of the construction of the Terminal 2 because the designers failed to bear in mind the party’s idea of architectural beauty,” Kim reportedly said in a statement, carried by KCNA. “It is necessary to finish the construction of the terminal to be an icon of Songun Korea, the face of the country and the gateway to Pyongyang.”

It is not clear how North Korea will generate passenger numbers to justify the construction of the new airport terminal as Pyongyang only has a few scheduled foreign flights, mostly from Beijing and Moscow, AFP reported.