Towering 1,080 feet over the skyline of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, the Ryugyong Hotel stands as one of the most striking and mysterious buildings in the world. But it's not famous for its luxury, its emptiness is what now draws attention.

Despite its jaw-dropping £559 million price tag, according to Japanese media, the hotel has never hosted a single guest. Often called the "Hotel of Doom," the Ryugyong was envisioned as a bold symbol of North Korea's economic and architectural prowess. Shaped like a glass-clad pyramid with 105 floors, construction began in 1987 with the ambitious goal of completing the project in time for the 80th birthday of President Kim Il Sung in 1992. Had it opened on schedule, it would have claimed the title of the tallest hotel in the world.

However, the dream soon crumbled. In 1992, just as the building reached its full height, construction came to a sudden halt after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was a key economic ally of North Korea.

With the loss of foreign investment, construction was stopped and the skeleton of the Ryugyong was left to loom over the capital, windowless and lifeless.

Work resumed in 2008 after a deal with Egypt's Orascom Group, a telecom firm that had partnered with the regime to roll out mobile phone networks. 

The exterior was finally completed by 2011, with sleek glass panels installed and modern antennae fitted atop the structure.

Hopes for an official launch briefly resurfaced in 2012, and a partial opening was even announced in partnership with German luxury hotel chain Kempinski but by 2013, the deal was off. 

In 2018, a giant LED display was mounted on one face of the building, transforming the dormant tower into a glowing propaganda canvas.

Today, the Ryugyong lights up with nationalistic animations, political slogans and fireworks.