Beyond the finish line: Foreign runners reflect on rare journey to North Korea



Features Beyond the finish line: Foreign runners reflect on rare journey to North Korea Participants in Pyongyang marathon share impressions of a ‘modern’ city and ‘curious’ people after first race in 6 years Jooheon Kim \| Shreyas Reddy April 11, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Participants in the Pyongyang International Marathon running through the streets of the North Korean capital \| Image: KCNA (April 7, 2025) Hundreds of foreigners descended on North Korea this week for the revival of the country’s premier marathon, offering the outside world a rare opportunity to travel to one of the world’s most secretive countries after years of isolation. The 31st Pyongyang International Marathon on Sunday marked a long-awaited return following five straight years of cancellations due to COVID-related border closures. It brought together over 500 participants, including around 200 amateur runners from more than 40 countries. Hundreds of foreigners descended on North Korea this week for the revival of the country’s premier marathon, offering the outside world a rare opportunity to travel to one of the world’s most secretive countries after years of isolation. The 31st Pyongyang International Marathon on Sunday marked a long-awaited return following five straight years of cancellations due to COVID-related border closures. It brought together over 500 participants, including around 200 amateur runners from more than 40 countries. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

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Beyond the finish line: Foreign runners reflect on rare journey to North Korea

Participants in Pyongyang marathon share impressions of a ‘modern’ city and ‘curious’ people after first race in 6 years

Jooheon Kim | Shreyas Reddy April 11, 2025

Beyond the finish line: Foreign runners reflect on rare journey to North Korea

Participants in the Pyongyang International Marathon running through the streets of the North Korean capital | Image: KCNA (April 7, 2025)

Hundreds of foreigners descended on North Korea this week for the revival of the country’s premier marathon, offering the outside world a rare opportunity to travel to one of the world’s most secretive countries after years of isolation.

The 31st Pyongyang International Marathon on Sunday marked a long-awaited return following five straight years of cancellations due to COVID-related border closures. It brought together over 500 participants, including around 200 amateur runners from more than 40 countries.

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Beyond the finish line: Foreign runners reflect on rare journey to North Korea

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