영국 외교부 "북한 여행시 화재 주의" 공지 Images emerge of major blaze at showpiece North Korean hotel which officials refuse to admit happened(VIDEO)
Pictured - the fire Kim Jong-Un didn't want you to see: Images emerge of major blaze at showpiece North Korean hotel which officials refuse to admit happened
In flames: Photos show a fire at the Koryo Hotel in the
North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Thursday -
but state officials have refused to say it happened
A bridge at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang went up in flames on Thursday
Despite clear photographic evidence, officials refuse to confirm the fire
Reports police reprimanded tourists who took photographs of the blaze
No details given on whether people were injured or extent of the damage
영국 외교부 "북한 여행시 화재 주의" 공지
영국 정부가 최근 발생한 평양 고려호텔 화재와 관련해 북한여행 주의사항에 화재 안전 항목을 추가했다고 미국의소리(VOA) 방송이 13일 전했다.
영국 외교부는 12일(현지시간) 발표한 북한여행 주의사항 수정안에 화재에 따른 안전 항목을 추가하면서 북한을 여행하는 자국민들에게 "호텔의 화재 대응 절차를 점검하거나 여행사 관계자들과 이 문제에 대해 협의하기 바란다"고 당부했다.
이어 "최근 호텔 화재는 북한이 안전의식이 낮은 문화를 가진 나라라는 점을 잘 보여준다"고 지적했다
(서울=연합뉴스) 오예진 기자
By ELAINE O'FLYNN FOR MAILONLINE
Photos from inside the secretive state of North Korea show one of the country's best known hotels on fire - despite state officials refusing to admit there was even a blaze.
Plumes of black smoke were spotted coming from a bridge connecting the two 43-storey towers of the Koryo Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in the capital of Pyongyang.
As firefighters spent hours on Thursday putting out the flames police apprehended foreigners who tried to take pictures of the incident.
But despite their best efforts people present at the incident were able to share images with the world.
North Korea is one of the world's most isolated and secretive countries, and despite the photographs there has been no mention of the fire in state media.
One source in Pyongyang said swarms of police, paramilitary, ambulances and officials from North Korean state security were outside the landmark hotel on Thursday when the fire sparked.
'Several foreigners were apprehended for trying to take pictures of the scene,' the source, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.
The building with two signature towers linked by a walkway on the upper floors is a Pyongyang landmark and often used by foreigners who visit the country.
Proof: Police in Pyongyang reportedly tried to stop foreign tourists taking pictures of the Koryo Hotel on fire
Secretive: North Korean authorities have refused to admit there was even a fire at the hotel, pictured in the background, or the level of damage it suffered. Insiders have been assured there were no casualties
Yet despite photographic evidence and eye-witness accounts, North Korean authorities - including those in the hotel - refused to confirm there had been a fire, or provide any information about injures or the extent of the damage.
Troy Collings of Young Pioneer Tours, who regularly takes foreign tourists to North Korea, revealed the fire was extinguished by Friday
Both Seoul and Pyongyang were hit by seasonal heavy rains on Thursday night, which is thought to have helped douse the flames..
'The fire was eventually put out, the building didn't burn down, and our partners in Pyongyang reassured us that there were no casualties', Mr Collings said.
Another witness, not a citizen of North Korea, saw the fire as he drove past the building.
They told AP on Thursday they spotted firefighters at the centre, and that the hotel's lights were working.
Tight-lipped: In 2014 state officials took five days to confirm a 23-storey apartment building had collapsed in Pyongyang, reporting dictator Kim Jong Un (pictured) 'sat up all night, feeling painful' over the incident
A second person reported seeing 'fire and lots of black smoke from several top floors' of the Koryo, which is in central Pyongyang'.
It is not the first time the state has refused to release details about tragic events.
When a 23-storey apartment building collapsed in Pyongyang in May 2014, officials confirmed it five days later and described it as 'serious,' but never announced a death toll.
They said leader Kim Jong Un had 'sat up all night, feeling painful after being told about the accident.'
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