North Korea has officially welcomed foreign athletes back for the first Pyongyang International Marathon since 2019. This is a huge step as the reclusive nation tentatively returns to mainstream life after years of pandemic-induced closure.

Pyongyang Reopens to Foreign Athletes After Border Shutdown

Pyongyang Marathon 2025: North Korea Hosts First International Marathon in Pyongyang Marathon 2025: North Korea Hosts First International Marathon in
KIM WON JIN/AFP via Getty Images

According to state media KCNA and Rodong Sinmun via CNN, the much-anticipated Pyongyang International Marathon 2024 occurred on Sunday, April 6.

Participants came from China, Ethiopia, Romania, and other countries. It was the first large-scale international sporting event since the closure of North Korea's borders in early 2020.

Approximately 200 overseas runners entered the capital on Friday and Saturday, according to Simon Cockerell, general manager of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, the official international partner of the marathon.

Cockerell posted scenes of Pyongyang's streets and leisure areas through Instagram, capturing unusual glimpses of life within the reclusive state.

Though the isolated nation has taken tentative steps towards reopening, accepting limited numbers of Russian tourist groups, Pyongyang is still largely off-limits to ordinary tourism. Yet for those involved in the event, including tourists and athletes running in the race, the marathon acted as an occasional gateway to the country and a view into post-COVID North Korea.

Members trained inside the prescribed hotel boundaries before Sunday's race. The course utilized a return layout that featured prominent central Pyongyang icons, dipped into nearby rural terrain areas briefly, and looped back into an overflowing stadium hosting 50,000 fans, according to the official description by Koryo Tours.

Symbolic Events Associated with National Festivals

The Pyongyang Marathon is more than a sports event—it's part of a larger celebration to commemorate April 15, Kim Il Sung's birthday, and the founding father of the nation and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. The regime has long connected such events to ideological celebrations and national pride.

Hosting the event once again shows North Korea's bid to reposition itself in the world, even symbolically. With limited access to the press and tightly restricted travel, the return of the marathon shows Pyongyang's desire to reconnect with the rest of the world on its terms.

Will This Be a Turning Point in North Korea's Openness?

While Sunday's marathon is a move towards opening the Hermit Kingdom, specialists are still cautious. The border controls are still tight, and no widespread reopening of normal tourism or cultural exchange has been implemented.

Nevertheless, the successful organization and turnout of foreign runners indicate an increasing willingness on the part of Pyongyang to stage international events, albeit in closely controlled forms.