Why Did North Korea Accuse Switzerland of a ‘Serious Human Rights Abuse’?

You would figure North Korea would be in no position to go after the human rights abuses of other nations, and you would be right. But what would make it more unbelievable is if this wasn’t really about human rights, but a simple business deal. Brace yourselves, then, because North Korea blasted Switzerland for a “serious human rights abuse” over… ski lifts.

Yes, you read that right. According to The Washington Post, North Korea has been building a ski resort (to boost tourism?) and is unable to manufacture its own ski lifts, so it offered millions to a Swiss company to make them.

The Swiss government blocked the deal, and North Korea responded through its official state outlet.

“This is an intolerable mockery of the social system and the people of the DPRK and a serious human rights abuse that politicizes sports and discriminates against the Koreans,” it said. The “democratic countries” advocating “equality of all people,” “defense of human rights” and “freedom” are resorting to criminal hostile act of violating the dignity of a sovereign state in a bid to deprive Koreans of their elementary right to enjoy a cultural life, it added.

(2013-10-08/mediaite)