Kim Jong Un taps young Russian influencer to lure tourists to North Korean ski resort

North Korea, a totalitarian state under the leadership of the Kim family, has seen its current director, Kim Jong Un, make a distinct and somewhat unforeseen decision. The ruler has hired a young Russian influencer to endorse a ski resort he owns on Instagram. This move is strategic, as a group of Russian tourists are set to visit North Korea in February 2024, marking the first commercial visitors in four years.

The hired influencer is a 23-year-old Russian woman named Victoria. Boasting a study background in Advertising and Public Relations in Moscow, Victoria highlights her positive experiences in North Korea through her Instagram profile. With posts showcasing the highs of life in North Korea, she purports to have lived there since November 2023. A particular focus in her posts is the Masikryong resort, about a three-hour drive from the capital, which she relentlessly praises.

"The hotel check-in process was gratifying, with the room being clean, bright, and styled like a mountain cabin, comprising everything essential for a comfortable stay. Adding to that, a magnificent view of the ski slopes from the window," Victoria stated in one of her Instagram posts.

With her sudden social media presence, a wave of conspiracy theories has emerged. Online speculations suggest that the 23-year-old could be the spouse of a Russian diplomat or another dignitary based in Pyongyang, the country's capital. Some even link her Instagram activities to the so-called Kremlin project, where Vladimir Putin urges citizens to spend their holidays specifically in North Korea. Victoria's role is thus to convince them of the merits of this idea.

Source: thesun.co.uk