North Korea stages first international marathon in six years

For the first time since 2019, foreign athletes are competing in the Pyongyang International Marathon, with roughly 200 foreign runners from countries such as China and Romania joining local competitors for a race through the streets of the North Korean capital.

In 2019, some 950 foreign runners joined the race.

North Korea closed its borders when the coronavirus hit and has been very slow to reopen. Although it has allowed groups of Russian tourists into the country, the capital has largely remained closed to the outside world.

The event is one of several in the country that will celebrate the April 15, 1912, birthday of the nation's founder, Kim Il Sung, grandfather of the nation's current leader, Kim Jong Un.

Simon Cockerell, who runs Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based company that touts itself as the race's exclusive travel partner said, "The Pyongyang Marathon is an extremely unique experience as it provides an opportunity to interact with locals."

Cockerell calls North Korea "a complex and fascinating place," saying, "while it is definitely not for everyone, it definitely appeals to those curious about the experience of visiting such a country and seeing what they can."

Participants will be greeted by 50,000 cheering North Koreans when they return to the finish line at Kim Il Sung Stadium in PyongyangImage: Kim Won Jin/AFP/Getty Images

The race began with locals greeting participants at Kim Il Sung Stadium before the starting gun. Runners will head past landmarks and out into the countryside before returning to a crowd of 50,000 at the stadium.

The marathon, which is listed on the website of global governing body World Athletics, is the largest international sporting event in the country.

Nuclear-armed North Korea is largely regarded as an international pariah for its belligerent provocations, regular breaches of international missile test agreements, chemical weapons stockpiles and support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

The totalitarian, hermit state is under numerous international sanctions and has one of the world's worst human rights records according to groups such as Amnesty International (AI).  

Edited by Jenipher Camino Gonzalez