The Pyongyang International Marathon, held on April 6, 2025, marked a significant moment for North Korea as it hosted its first international marathon in six years. This historic event welcomed around 200 runners from across the globe, including participants from countries such as Russia, China, the UK, Singapore, France, Portugal, Germany, Australia, Spain, Slovakia and Poland, making it one of the most diverse editions in the marathon’s history.
EXPLORING PYONGYANG
Set against the backdrop of Pyongyang’s iconic landmarks, the marathon provided a rare opportunity for foreigners to explore the capital’s streets, cheered on by thousands of locals. Starting and ending at the legendary Kim Il-sung Stadium, the event was a symbol of North Korea's cautious steps towards reopening after years of isolation.
Koryo Tours played a crucial role in organizing the participation of western tourists at this year's marathon, taking on the responsibility as the exclusive partner due to the short notice in preparing for this international event. In addition to western groups, two Chinese travel companies brought runners to the event — the first time since the pandemic that tour groups from China have entered the DPRK. Hong Kong’s tour group, DeWonder, also brought 22 participants to Pyongyang for the occasion. These tours came with a premium price tag. The fee for the seven-day marathon tour was around $2,750 USD per person, with the cost of participating in the race charged separately (full marathon participation was priced at around $155 USD, the half marathon at around $104 USD and the 5 or 10km races at around $72 USD).
VOICES FROM THE RACE
For North Korean runners like Pak Kum-dong and Jon Su-gyong, who secured victories in the elite men’s and women’s full marathon categories respectively, the event was a proud moment of achievement widely celebrated on state media. Pak described the enthusiastic cheers from his fellow citizens as his greatest motivation to push through the challenges of the race. Meanwhile, Polish runner Wojciech Kopec, who swept all three medals in the men’s amateur marathon, made headlines with his claim for victory in the race despite North Korean state media reporting a local athlete as the winner.
American runner Cameron Mofid, who participated in the 10km event, described the marathon as “the craziest experience” of his life. Mofid, who completed his mission to visit every country in the world with this trip to North Korea, shared the adrenaline rush of entering Kim Il-sung Stadium filled with 50,000 spectators and noted that the atmosphere was unlike anything he had experienced before.
Claus Randrup, a marathon participant from Denmark, said that while he believed there were no actors filling the streets and stores, he thought certain aspects of the trip were choreographed — such as metro passengers moving to the car where foreigners were located, or the last-minute approval for a visit to a shopping center. Randrup felt these elements were staged, “like part of a movie or play,” yet surprisingly, the short notice allowed more blending with locals. He remarked how much they were able to explore the city, even witnessing state-controlled social media where locals used a YouTube-style platform to watch 60-second highlights of Champions League games.
British YouTuber Harry Jaggard also documented his journey, shedding light on the contrasting interactions with North Korean guides. “When we’re off camera, they’re very open and they’ll say what they really think,” Jaggard shared, noting the candid nature of their discussions in informal settings. However, he observed a distinct shift when cameras were involved — guides and staffers appeared to have rehearsed responses, often citing music and books associated with the regime. “It’s like a script that they’ve learned.” Despite this, Jaggard highlighted moments of humor and curiosity, such as a guide jokingly pointing out a beer bottle-shaped pillar at the Taedonggang Brewery, calling it the best beer.
The marathon was more than just an athletic event — it provided a rare window into the lives of North Koreans in 2025. This opportunity was especially unique given that North Korea briefly reopened tourism to Western visitors last month for the first time in over five years, only to suspend it again after just three weeks. The marathon-linked tours appear to have been a fleeting event, leaving uncertainty about future opportunities to engage with the reclusive nation.
