North Korea held its first Pyongyang Marathon since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring athletes from countries including China and Ethiopia, as reported by state television.

The marathon coincides with the celebrations of the April 15 birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea and grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong Un.

Approximately 200 international visitors arrived in Pyongyang in the days leading up to the event, where participants were given opportunities to practice at a hotel prior to the race, according to Simon Cockerell, general manager at Koryo Tours, which serves as an official partner for the marathon.

North Korea had enforced strict border controls starting in 2020 due to the pandemic, reopening gradually since 2023. While the capital remains largely closed to regular tourism, groups of Russian tourists have been allowed entry into the country.

The marathon route features a return course that runs through central Pyongyang, encompassing significant landmarks and extending into the countryside before finishing back in the city at a stadium filled with an audience of approximately 50,000 spectators, as detailed by Koryo Tours.

Footage from state television depicted a large gathering of North Korean spectators, some wearing masks, who welcomed the runners at the stadium.

Among the participants, a North Korean runner was reported to be the first to finish the race.