Run for the first time
North Korea ends six-year marathon break
North Korea ends six-year marathon break
04/06/2025, 4:01 p.m.
Of course, a North Korean wins: Since the beginning of Corona pandemic, the country has not stopped its marathon. So far: even professional runners from abroad are traveling for the return. Observers consider the competition as a delicate sign of opening.
North Korea held a marathon in Pyongyang for the first time after a six -year break. The state news agency KCNA reported that professional runners from China, Romania, Morocco and Ethiopia had traveled to the North Korean capital. According to state television, a North Korean is said to have exceeded the finish line, but the time is not known.
Also – as usual before the Corona pandemic – tourists were able to take part in the marathon, as can be seen from Instagram photos of the British Simon Cockerell, managing director of the Koryo Tours travel agency based in Beijing. According to the Reuters news agency, more than 200 people are said to have come into the country. Amateur runners who want to participate must complete the marathon at least within 4.5 hours.
Observers regard the marathon event as evidence of a tentative opening of the hermetically sealed country. Because it is one of the first occasions since Corona pandemic that western travelers have been left to North Korea again. Previously, only Russian tourists were allowed to travel to North Korea.
In the course of pandemic, North Korea had practically completely closed its borders by 2023. Most of the messages had meanwhile also deducted their international staff from the North Korean capital. The German Embassy in Pyongyang is still out of service.
The Pyongyang Marathon was first held in 1981. The course of the route always leads through the center of the North Korean capital and starts and ends in the first May stadium, which is one of the largest sports facilities in the world.
