Mon Apr 07 08:45:43 UTC 2025: ## Pyongyang Marathon Returns After Six-Year Hiatus
**PYONGYANG, North Korea** – Hundreds of runners, including foreign athletes, participated in the Pyongyang International Marathon on Sunday, marking the event’s return after a six-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The marathon, held to celebrate the birth of North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung, saw enthusiastic crowds of North Korean citizens lining the streets and cheering on participants.
Photos from the event show foreign runners joining North Korean athletes at the starting line in Kim Il Sung Stadium and competing in the streets of the capital. The marathon, described as a “race like no other,” offers a rare glimpse into the usually closed-off city of Pyongyang for foreign visitors.
According to Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, the Beijing-based travel agency that organized the trip for foreign runners, the event was a resounding success. Koryo Tours, the exclusive travel partner for the marathon, boasts that the race offers a unique opportunity to interact with North Korean locals. Approximately 180 foreign runners participated this year, a smaller number than the nearly 950 who ran in the last pre-pandemic marathon in 2019.
The Pyongyang International Marathon, listed on the World Athletics website, is the largest international sporting event in North Korea. The event provides a unique opportunity for foreign participants to experience a rarely seen side of the country.
First Piper 