N. Korean leader celebrates completion of 'modern mountainous city' amid sanction

North Korean has celebrated the completion of leader Kim Jong Un's signature construction project, a new city near the sacred mountain where his family claims its roots, with state media on Tuesday calling it the "epitome of modern civilisation". A massive celebration involving fireworks was held at the city near Mount Paektu on Monday.

The city named Samjiyon is envisaged as a "socialist utopia" with new apartments, hotels, a ski resort and commercial, cultural and medical facilities. The city is one of the largest economic initiatives Kim has launched as part of his drive for a "self-reliant economy, but its construction was delayed chiefly due to shortages in construction materials and labour as a result of sanctions imposed to curb Pyongyang's nuclear programme.