After a six-year hiatus, North Korea is organizing the Pyongyang International Marathon once again. The country, which largely closed its borders during the pandemic, is now returning to sporting events with the participation of 200 foreign runners.

North Korea is hosting the Pyongyang International Marathon for the first time in six years. Despite the pandemic restrictions, the country is also welcoming foreign runners. According to the official KCNA news agency, athletes from China, Romania, and other countries have arrived in North Korea to participate in the event.

200 RUNNERS HAVE ARRIVED FOR THE MARATHON. Simon Cockerell, the general manager of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, shared footage of the streets of Pyongyang, revealing that around 200 travelers arrived in Pyongyang on Friday and Saturday, with foreign runners preparing for Sunday’s race at a hotel.

Koryo Tours, as the official partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, assists in organizing the registration process for international visitors.

CAPITAL STILL CLOSED TO TOURISM

North Korea closed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been gradually easing restrictions since 2023. While some Russian tourist groups are now allowed entry into the country, the capital remains closed to regular tourism. The marathon will take place on a route passing through the center of Pyongyang and its iconic structures, ending in a rural area just outside the city. A crowd of 50,000 locals is expected to participate in the race. The Pyongyang International Marathon is one of the events celebrating the April 15th birthday of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un.