North Korea has welcomed over 200 foreign runners in the Pyongyang International Marathon, marking their first hosting in six years. Since its inception in 1981, the marathon has been an annual event in April, honoring the birth of the country’s founding leader, Kim Il Sung. The event was last held in 2019, with 950 foreign participants. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a halt in such events for the following years, with the country only allowing Russian tourists back in. Foreign runners must be part of an organized tour to enter the country, such as those offered by Koryo Tours at 2,195 euros ($2,406), including flights. The marathon features notable landmarks such as the Kim Il Sung stadium, the Arch of Triumph, and the Mirae Future Scientists’ Street. Pictures showed the stadium filled with cheering spectators, waving gold-colored paper flags. A North Korean runner, Pak Kum Dong, mentioned the support of his countrymen as motivation. The race results were not made public. North Korea has only recently begun easing its Covid-19 restrictions, allowing some Western tourists access to Rason in February, though those tours were canceled weeks later.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpq7l09z5e5o