North Korea Hosts First International Marathon in Six Years
Sunday saw the return of the Pyongyang International Marathon, with foreign runners joining in for the first time in six years. The event attracted athletes from China, Romania, and other countries, according to reports from state media KCNA and the Rodong Sinmun newspaper.
Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, the official partner of the marathon, posted on Instagram that around 200 tourists arrived in Pyongyang on Friday and Saturday. Foreign runners trained at a hotel in the capital before the big day.
The marathon route took runners through the heart of Pyongyang, passing notable landmarks and venturing into the surrounding countryside before finishing at a stadium packed with around 50,000 spectators.
This event marks a significant easing of COVID-19 restrictions, which have been in place since 2020. While the capital remains closed to most tourists, some Russian visitors have been allowed to enter the country since 2023.
The Pyongyang International Marathon is also part of the celebrations for the birthday of Kim Il-sung, the country’s founder and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un, on April 15.
Source: CNN
