SEOUL — On April 6, North Korea held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, welcoming foreign athletes for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic prompted strict border closures. Participants from countries including China and Ethiopia joined the event, which coincides with celebrations for the April 15 birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the nation’s founder and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un, according to state-run television.

Simon Cockerell, general manager of Beijing-based Koryo Tours—which helps facilitate international registration for the marathon—shared via Instagram that around 200 foreign visitors arrived in Pyongyang on Friday and Saturday. Many trained at their hotel ahead of the race. North Korea had closed its borders in 2020 due to the pandemic but began easing restrictions in 2023. While the capital remains off-limits to general tourists, Russian tour groups have been granted entry.

The marathon followed a looped course through central Pyongyang, showcasing major landmarks and surrounding rural areas before ending at a stadium filled with 50,000 spectators, according to Koryo Tours. Footage from state TV showed a masked crowd cheering runners, while foreign athletes captured the moment on their phones. A North Korean runner won the race, state media reported.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.