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Kim Jong-un shows off airport designed by architect he likely had executed

Ma Won-chun had not been seen since Kim expressed his disappointment in the terminal's original design last year.

Tuesday 30 June 2015 12:40 BST

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un toured Pyongyang Airport’s new terminal ahead of its opening, but reports claim Kim ordered the architect to be executed after he was unhappy with its design.

State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published photos of Kim and his wife touring the sleek new terminal, but the building’s head designer, Ma Won-chun was not leading the walk-through.

Ma was one of six high-level diplomats who disappeared last year in a government purge carried out by Kim. According to The Diplomat, he was murdered in November for “corrupt practices and failure to follow orders” – namely, failing to provide an terminal that met the leader’s standards.

The new terminal boasts a jewelery shop, among other luxury amenities

According to NKNews

, Kim expressed his dissatisfaction when he initially inspected the second terminal. The modifications were made but Ma was allegedly removed from his position as Designing Department of the National Defence Commission.

“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 that it is the life and soul and core in architecture to preserve the Juche character and national identity,” Kim said in comments reported by KCNA.

The new hub is the latest in Kim’s push to make North Korea more appealing to tourists. It will be serviced by flights from China and Russia but passenger footfall is expected to be low.

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Show all 11

1/11North Korea's worst human rights abuses

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Starvation

A UN report said that policies leading to mass starvation in North Korea amounted to crimes against humanity. Deaths peaked during the 1990s North Korean famine.

Al Jazeera

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Executions

Defence minister Hyon Yong Chol is believed to be the latest official executed after falling foul of Kim Jong-un. As well as gruesome public executions, thousands of people have been killed in state 'purges' and for alleged anti-state crimes

Getty

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Torture

Torture is prevalent in prison camps, as well as in police and security service custody.

AP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of religion

American missionary Kenneth Bae was one of the many people detained after trying to practice their religion. The DPRK Constitution claims to protect freedom of religion but not if it as alleged of being used a a pretext for 'drawing in foreign forces or for harming the state and social order'. Christianity is frequently considered a political crime

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of expression

All media is tightly-state controlled and expressing facts of opinions critical of the government or Juche ideology can lead to arrest and imprisonment. As well as being under extensive surveillance, people are encouraged to 'inform' on friends and neighbours

Getty

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of thought

A UN report found that the 'DPRK operates an all-encompassing indoctrination machine which takes root from childhood to propagate an official personality cult and to manufacture absolute obedience to the Supreme Leader, effectively to the exclusion of any independent thought from the official ideology and state propaganda'

Reuters

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Forced labour

Prisoners are subjected to forced labour in camps, including children as young as five. Some workers are also reportedly being sent abroad to fund the government's projects

AFP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Sexual discrimination

Although women are permitted to serve in the military, their role is restrained by the Juche ideology and the UN reports that 'discrimination against women remains pervasive in all aspects of society'

AP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of movement

Freedom of movement is severely restricted within North Korea and very few citizens are allowed to leave the country. Immigrants found in China can be forcible repatriated and punished on their return. The right for foreigners to enter is also severely restricted.

Reuters

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Prison camps

Many of the worst abuses reported take place at prison camps, some specifically for political crimes. The camps officially do not exist but have been photographed using satellite. Inmates are 'forcibly disappeared' and usually imprisoned until death

REUTERS

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Reproductive rights

Forced abortions have been reported for imprisoned women, often after being raped by guards. Mothers and babies frequently die in childbirth because of a lack of adequate care, often delivering babies unaided at home.

AP

Featuring a jewellery shop, a café and a pharmacy, Kim appeared happy with the updated appearance of the terminal and approved its opening on July 1.

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