North Korea welcomed 200 foreign runners to the Pyongyang International Marathon 2024, the country’s first since 2019. The marathon returned after a six-year hiatus, drawing global attention to the streets of Pyongyang on April Sunday.
Launched in 1981, the event honors the birthday of Kim Il Sung and traditionally features a route through Pyongyang’s landmarks. Before COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, the last edition saw 950 international participants in what was then an annual celebration.
Since then, North Korea has maintained a strict border closure, with only Russian tourists admitted into Pyongyang starting in 2023. Foreigners participating in Sunday’s race had to enter via tightly controlled tour packages operated by pre-approved agencies.
Based in Beijing, Koryo Tours promoted a six-day International Marathon travel package costing €2,195, including flights. The race began and ended at the Kim Il Sung Stadium, which was filled with cheering crowds waving golden paper flags.
Runners passed notable sites like the Arch of Triumph and Mirae Scientists’ Street, offering rare glimpses of North Korean life. While the event was celebrated with fanfare, officials released no public results or rankings after the race concluded. North Korea began easing pandemic-related restrictions in mid-2023 but remains cautious in allowing widespread foreign access.
In February, it briefly opened Rason to Western visitors but closed access again weeks later for internal reasons. Spectators at Sunday’s event appeared energized, waving and cheering as foreign and local athletes entered the city. Organizers hope the marathon will help signal a cautious reopening of the reclusive nation to tourism and sports diplomacy.
Though the numbers were lower than pre-pandemic levels, the 2024 race marked a symbolic return to global athletic participation. Observers see the event as a gesture of engagement despite ongoing international tensions and tight border controls.
