The Pyongyang Marathon Returns After Six Years   

• North Korea held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years on April 6, marking the return of the annual event, which had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 500 runners, including over 200 international participants from more than 40 countries, took part in the race. The marathon, which began in 1981, is traditionally held each April to celebrate the birthday of Kim Il-sung, the country’s founding leader. This year’s event was part of the celebrations leading up to his April 15 birth anniversary. The opening ceremony was held at Kim Il Sung Stadium, where over 50,000 spectators cheered on amateur runners. Participants followed a route that passed major landmarks, including the Arch of Triumph, built to honor Kim Il-sung’s resistance to Japanese occupation, and Mirae Scientists’ Street, a residential district for scientists and engineers. Pak Kum-dong, a North Korean runner, told Reuters, “The eyes of our people on me helped me to bear the difficulties whenever I feel tired.” Jon Su-gyong of North Korea won the women’s race, finishing in two hours, 25 minutes, and 48 seconds. However, no official race results were released to the public. Tourism to North Korea remains tightly controlled. Runners were required to enter the country as part of an organized tour group, a process similar to the pre-pandemic era. Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based travel agency listed as an exclusive marathon partner, offered a six-day package tour priced at 2,195 euros (roughly 3.3 million won), including round-trip flights from Beijing. “The Pyongyang Marathon is an extremely unique experience as it provides an opportunity to interact with locals,” the agency states on its website. Notably, runners from the United States, South Korea, and Malaysia were not allowed to participate, reportedly due to ongoing diplomatic tensions with North Korea, according to NK News. North Korea began easing its strict COVID-19 restrictions in mid-2023. In February, the country briefly allowed Western tourists into the eastern city of Rason but quickly suspended those tours. Currently, most travelers must enter North Korea through pre-approved tour groups operating from China or Russia. The country remains closed to independent travelers and generally does not grant tourist visas to citizens of countries with which it has strained diplomatic relations, including the U.S. and South Korea. Even for approved visitors, surveillance is high, and interaction with locals is limited and monitored. Luis Apolo Staff Reporter teen/1745287398/1613367592