KIM JONG-UN has hired a mystery glamorous influencer to promote a ghostly North Korean ski resort on her Instagram.
The move is a strange one given the strict social media ban in place in the country, however the dictator is renowned for his erractic nature.
5
5
Known only as Viktoria, the Russian bombshell has faced a barrage of criticism since relocating to live in the despotic state.
She regularly appears online – which has led to claims she is linked to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang.
It comes as Vladimir Putin has been encouraging Russians to take vacations in North Korea as a thank you for supplying missiles and shells for his war against Ukraine.
The 23-year-old model’s posts show a deserted Masikryong resort where she took skiing lessons in English.
North Korean people are absent in the promotion – which comes as package tours to Masikryong from Russia are due to start.
She could only have had the resort to herself – with the close approval of Kim Jong Un’s authorities and under the watchful eyes of state minders who are not shown.
One comment told her: “If you really moved to North Korea, the first thing they would do would be to take away your damn phone.
“What the hell….the internet in North Korea?”
Another said: “You must be the only blogger in North Korea.”
“Without official approval, she would be “jailed for 50 years of hard labour,” wrote a third.
“I don’t quite understand how this is possible – as far as I know, foreigners do not have the opportunity to come for permanent residence,” said a fourth.
Some Russians fear the sanitised promotion is aimed at adapting them to life in a truly totalitarian state – which is even more autocratic than Putin’s country.
“Russians are being adapted to North Korean life, a Cossack was sent…to tell how great everything is,” said one person.
Others suggest she could be the wife of a Russian diplomat or other official posted to Pyongyang, while a “Kremlin project” to promote North Korea with Kim’s backing is also suspected.
The two countries are cosying up amid the Russian war against Ukraine.
Masikryong is a three hour drive from the capital meaning the model had a chance to to “enjoy the beautiful views.”
Viktoria has almost 80,000 followers across several platforms and is believed to be married.
“Checking into the hotel was also very comfortable, I loved the room, clean bright chalet-style, and everything you need for a comfortable stay.
“And of course a beautiful view of the ski slopes from the window,”she said.
She skied for the first time in her life during the trip and was instructed in English as she doesn’t speak Korean.
And the influencer appeared to be getting VIP treatment as she described visiting a spa and having lunch at the highest point of the resort.
She said: “I spent the other two days eating really good food, drinking coffee, playing pool and ice skating.”
Viktoria studied at the Faculty of Advertising and Public Relations in Moscow, where she has lived most of her life.
She appears to have been living in North Korea since November and joked in a post: “I broke the toilet on my second day.”
Five day Russian tours at the ski resort in four and five star hotels from closest major Russian city Vladivostok due to start next month and start at £590.
This follows a meeting between Putin and Kim in Vladivostok in September, and increasingly close relations between the defence ministries of the two countries.
In the past two weeks, North Korean ballistic missiles have started to be used by the Russians in Ukraine.
5
5