North Korea livid at Swiss ban on export of ski resort equipment

North Korea has reacted sharply to a decision by Switzerland to block a deal that consisted of selling ski lifts to the secretive communist country.

According to the BBC, the equipment, that included chair lifts and cable cars, was for the Masik ski resort project, which is currently under construction.

However, the Swiss government disclosed last week that the equipment constituted luxury goods and so was subject to UN sanctions, the report said.

The Masik ski resort site was said to be a pet project of leader Kim Jong-un, who reportedly skied there when he attended secondary school in Bern under an assumed name, the report added.

It is also being seen as a response to South Korea hosting the 2018 Winter Olympic Games and the North Korean leader has repeatedly visited the site and promoted it as an attempt to enhance the lifestyle of the nation's citizens, the report further said.

However, Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs said that it was inconceivable that the general public would use the resort.