North Korea announced the arrival of foreign elite athletes for the first Pyongyang Marathon in six years, scheduled for Sunday, though it has yet to officially confirm whether the race was held.
The Pyongyang Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, is part of North Korea’s annual celebrations honoring the birth of its founding leader Kim Il Sung in 1912.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), marathon runners from China, Romania, Morocco, and Ethiopia arrived in Pyongyang by air on April 3 and 5 to participate in the 31st edition of the event. However, the report did not provide any details about the race itself or its outcomes.
As the country’s largest international sporting event, the marathon offers a rare glimpse inside the secretive nation, allowing participants to run through the streets of Pyongyang. Photos shared on Instagram by Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours—an agency that facilitates foreign amateur runners’ participation—showed local citizens gathering along the route to watch the event.
“Today’s Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea offered a truly unique experience for participants. ‘An event like no other,’ remarked Cockerell, sharing pictures from the race. One photo captured foreign runners taking photos in front of the packed Kim Il Sung Stadium, filled with local spectators. The last marathon took place in 2019 before the pandemic, after which North Korea closed its borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This year, foreign participants are in Pyongyang for a six-day trip arranged by Koryo Tours, the exclusive travel partner of the Pyongyang Marathon. According to Koryo Tours, the event provides rare opportunities for foreigners to engage with locals, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The marathon is officially recognized by World Athletics, the global governing body for the sport.
In 2019, approximately 950 Western runners participated, a significant increase from the 450 in 2018. This year, around 180 foreign participants are expected to take part in this exceptional marathon.”
