KCNA Commentary Criticizes Some Western Countries for Banning Export of Ski Equipment to DPRK

  Pyongyang, August 30 (KCNA) -- Some Western European countries have opposed the export of cableway equipment to be installed at ski resort on Masik Pass in the DPRK, dancing to the tune of the U.S. move to stifle the DPRK.
    To justify their acts, they are contending that the construction of the ski resort is aimed to give good publicity to its social system and that the equipment belongs to "luxury goods" whose export to the DPRK is banned under the UN "sanctions". They are even making such remarks that it is unbelievable that ordinary people of the DPRK use ski resort on Masik Pass and ski is what only high-class people do.
    This is an intolerable mockery of the social system and the people of the DPRK and a serious human rights abuse that politicizes sports and discriminates against the Koreans.
    The "democratic countries" advocating "equality of all people", "defence of human rights" and "freedom" are unhesitatingly resorting to criminal hostile act of violating the dignity of a sovereign state in the eyes of the international community in a bid to deprive Koreans of their elementary right to enjoy a cultural life.
    Ski resort on Masik Pass is a popular sports facility whose construction is under way under the plan of the Workers' Party of Korea to provide youth and other people with highly civilized living conditions.
    Its users are the Koreans who are creating happiness with their own hands by relying on their own efforts as the master of the country as well as tourists and sports fans from countries around the world.
    No wonder, the special adviser to the Secretary General of the United Nations on Sports for Development and Peace, when interviewed by the south Korean Chungang Ilbo on August 23, expressed sympathy with the popular policies enforced in the DPRK, saying that he had good impressions of the DPRK during his visit to the country. The state is deeply concerned about sports which have become part of the daily life of the people and sports facilities are in wide use in the DPRK, he said. He added that sports facility which caught his greatest interest was ski resort on Masik Pass, noting that when completed, the resort is supposed to receive foreign tourists as well as south Korean tourists like Mt. Kumgang resort.
    Skiing is one of sports events loved by all people, men and women, young and old, in lots of countries around the world.
    There are thousands of ski resorts in various regions of the world and their users number tens of million.
    Not only countries with good natural and geographic conditions for skiing but also tropical countries direct efforts into developing ski events.
    Swiss people were fond of skiing despite poverty in the past centuries and lots of Swiss are engaged in the business of developing ski now.
    It is self-deluding to say that ski belongs to those high-class people.
    Countries which styled themselves "highly civilized nations" have spoiled its own dignity and image in the world's eyes, under the pressure by the U.S. bent on the hostile policy toward the DPRK. This can not but be a tragedy.
    No matter how desperately the U.S. and other hostile forces may resort to despicable acts in the international arena, pursuant to their high-handed and arbitrary practices, ski resort on Masik Pass will appear imposingly as a symbol of the high civilization of Korea and its heroic spirit. -0-