North Korea has inaugurated five newly built hotels in Samjiyon, a northern city near the country's highest mountain, Mount Paektu, as its leader Kim Jong-un expressed an "unshakable" will to develop the area into an attractive mountainous tourist zone, state media reported Tuesday. The North held ceremonies to officially open the new "modern" hotels in the Samjiyon Tourist Resort on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The North's leader has been pushing to turn Samjiyon into a major tourist designation as the country seeks to nurture tourism in an apparent bid to earn hard currency amid international sanctions. While looking around major facilities at the Ikkal and Milyong hotels Saturday, Kim expressed his satisfaction that "all elements are at a high level" in terms of practicality, diversity and artistic features, according to the KCNA. His daughter, Ju-ae, also accompanied her father on the inauguration ceremonies, according to photos carried by state media. "He expressed his unshakable will to turn Samjiyon City better into an innovative and hig