After 25 years of construction a glimpse inside North Korea's still unfinished 'Hotel Of Doom'

Work began on the imposing structure in 1987, but construction was stalled for 16 years after the money for the project ran out

To some it is the 'Hotel of Doom', to others the 'Phantom Hotel', either way after 25 years under construction the Ryugyong hotel in North Korea still looks far from finished.

Rare images have emerged of the pyramid shaped 105 storey building in Pyongyang which was labelled by Esquire magazine in 2008 the "worst building in the history of mankind".

Work began on the imposing structure in 1987, but construction was stalled for 16 years after the money for the project ran out.

Construction on the exterior of the building resumed three years ago but little progress has made inside.

Up until now very few people have been allowed inside - but the Beijing-based Koryo Tours Agency recently gained access.

Their pictures show the shell of the enormous building complete with bare concrete lobby and no sign of cabling, wiring, pipes or furnishings.

North Korea began construction of the building with the aim of communicating an image of wealth and prosperity to the outside world. Instead it has been widely mocked, ridiculed and criticised.

The 330m tall tower has a total of 3.9 million ft² floor space and should have initially opened in 1989.

At that time it would have been the tallest hotel in the world and the 7th largest skyscraper. Reports claim the building could have up to 3,000 rooms.

Shifting economic priorities meant the project was sidelined until five years ago.

It's estimated that over the 25 years of construction the North Korean government has spent up to two percent of its GDP on the building.

The tour company that took the new images of the inside of the building now say it is due for completion in two or three years time.