TANNED and wearing a swimsuit, So Myong II walks to the barbecue pit and throws on some clams. He obviously loves the beach he's on as well as their rugged emerald Chilbo mountains that rise abruptly behind it.
He loves them enough to forget, for a moment at least, that he he is a senior official sent to deliver an ideology soaked pitch singing their praises and instead lets the the natural beauty surrounding him to speak for itself.
Comrade So sees great things for North Korean attractions like the Hotels, big and small. Tourists from all over the country, maybe the world. ''As long as we have the leadership of our respected Marshal,'' he says referring to leader Kim Jung-Un, ''our future will be bright indeed.''
So wouldn't think of questioning the leader, but there's a hint of apprehension in the voice. And he isn't alone.
North Korea is pushing ahead with a new strategy of economic development and the intensified diplomacy with China, South Korea and the United States that such a move requires.
But hopes for a better future are mixed with with concern over potential downside of political or social volatility, and something that's harder to articulate; a fear of the unknown - even if it appears far more promising than the arduous path the country has been on for decades.
Even before announcing in January that he had sufficiently perfected his nuclear arsenal and could start to ficus on other things, Kim has held economic development to be his primary long-term concern.
He has allowed markets and entrepreneurship to flourish and, since succeeding his father as leader seven years ago, has dramatically transformed the skyline of the capital, Pyongyang, with several high-rise districts.
The transformation in the east-coast city of Wonsan, where Kim has a summer villa, has been almost as spectacular.
The Honor and Serving of the latest Operational Research on North Korea continues.
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