North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in six years

On Sunday, North Korea hosted its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, welcoming athletes from China, Romania, and other nations, as reported by state media. Approximately 200 foreign travelers arrived in Pyongyang for the event, which features a course through the city and surrounding countryside, with an expected crowd of 50,000 locals. The marathon coincides with celebrations for Kim Il Sung’s birthday and marks a gradual easing of the country’s pandemic-related border restrictions since 2023.