Despite North Korean dominance at the Pyongyang International Marathon, the participation of foreign runners has sparked global interest, fueling speculation that the country is jogging into soft diplomacy.
After six years of isolation, North Korea has reopened one of its few international events to the outside world—the Pyongyang International Marathon.
Held on April 6, 2025, the event attracted runners from around the globe and is being widely seen as a sign that the reclusive nation may be preparing to re-engage with foreign tourists after a prolonged border closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to North Korea’s state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), runners from countries including China, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Romania participated alongside North Korean athletes.
The event, also known as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, is traditionally held in April to commemorate the birthday of North Korea’s founding leader, Kim Il-sung, who was born on April 15, 1912.
The race began and ended at the 50,000-seat Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang, a site steeped in symbolism and often used to showcase national pride.
The marathon route offered participants a rare glimpse into the heart of the capital, weaving through major landmarks such as the Pyongyang Grand Theater, the Arch of Triumph, the Sino-Korean Friendship Tower, and the Taedong River.
The marathon featured multiple race categories: the full marathon (42.195 km), half marathon, 10-kilometer, and 5-kilometer runs.
Entry fees reportedly ranged from $150 for the full race to about $70 for the shorter distances, all payable in foreign currency.
Participation from international runners is typically arranged through tightly controlled tour groups, often coordinated by state-approved travel operators.
Among the foreign amateur athletes, Polish runners dominated the men’s marathon category, while a runner from Hong Kong won gold in the women’s division.
North Korean athletes swept the podium in the elite half marathon and 10-kilometer events across both genders, underscoring the country’s strong presence on home turf.
In the men’s event, runners from Ethiopia and North Korea completed the podium with silver and bronze, respectively. The women’s race saw a similar mix, with an Ethiopian runner earning bronze behind two North Koreans.
Notably absent was Han Il Ryong, North Korea’s national record holder and sole athletics representative at the Paris Olympics. His absence came just a week after he clinched gold and set a new championship record at the Asian Marathon Championships.
Their presence, along with the attendance of runners from several nations, is being seen as a rare moment of soft diplomacy and visibility for a country that has become increasingly closed off from the global community in recent years.
The event was attended by senior officials including Vice Premier Pak Jong-gun and Sports Minister Kim Il-kuk, underlining its political and symbolic significance.
Launched in 1981, the Pyongyang International Marathon has long served dual purposes: honouring the nation’s founder and generating much-needed foreign revenue.
Until the pandemic shut down nearly all cross-border travel in 2020, the event was one of the few ways for foreign tourists to enter North Korea, offering a unique—albeit highly controlled—experience of the country. Tour groups often paired participation with visits to key monuments and historical sites, under strict government supervision.
Footage released by state media showed participants jogging past meticulously maintained streets and enthusiastic local spectators, many dressed in traditional Korean attire and waving flags. The scenes offered a curated but vibrant image of life in Pyongyang—one that starkly contrasts with what little is known about the conditions in more remote or impoverished parts of the country.
Whether the marathon signals broader engagement is uncertain. But for now, it offers a rare glimpse into one of the world’s most isolated nations, and its willingness to open its doors.
