North Korea Resumes 'Pyongyang Marathon' After 6 Years... Starting Foreign Currency Earnings

North Korea has begun recruiting participants for the international marathon to be held in Pyongyang this April. If the event takes place as scheduled, it will be the first in six years. It is analyzed that this move aims to earn foreign currency while evading sanctions against North Korea.

Foreign participants are running on the main course at the Pyongyang International Marathon, held every April to commemorate the birthday of Chairman Kim Il-sung, known as the Day of the Sun. North Korea suspended the event for six years starting in 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19. Yonhap News

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According to the Choson Sports website on the 6th, the recruitment guidelines for the 31st Pyongyang International Marathon, scheduled for early April, have been posted. Choson Sports is a site operated by North Korea's Ministry of Sports. Since 1981, North Korea has held a marathon to commemorate the birthday of President Kim Il-sung, known as the Day of the Sun. The event was suspended from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and although there was an attempt to resume it last April, it was ultimately canceled, resulting in five consecutive years of cancellation.

The marathon, returning after six years, will be divided into the 'expert category' for elite athletes and the 'enthusiast category' for amateur runners. The detailed events include men's and women's full course (42.195 km), half marathon (21.097 km), 10 km, and 5 km races. The course starts at the Kim Il-sung Stadium. It then passes through major Pyongyang landmarks such as Kaesong Street, the Monument to Friendship, Pyongyang Grand Theater, and Mangyongdae Children's Palace.

As it is named an 'international competition,' there is a clear effort to actively recruit foreign participants. For the expert category, it was announced that official invitations will be sent by the 20th to one male and one female athlete from each country as a principle. The North Korean side also plans to provide round-trip airfare and accommodation expenses.

For the enthusiast category, participants from East Asia and Southeast Asia (excluding Singapore, China, and Hong Kong) who wish to compete can apply through travel agencies under the National Tourism Administration. Participants from other countries such as Singapore, China, and Hong Kong must apply through the British Koryo Travel Agency located in Beijing, China.

The participation fees are set at around $150 for the full course, $100 for the half marathon, and $70 each for the 10 km and 5 km races.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, and his daughter Ju-ae entering the banquet hall. Photo by Chosun Central TV.

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North Korea appears to be restarting its foreign currency earning efforts through this event. Sectors such as tourism can avoid United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. It is expected that North Korea will lift the border lockdown imposed during the COVID-19 period and actively expand tourism products targeting foreigners.

Currently, China, Russia, and some Southeast Asian countries face no restrictions on visiting North Korea. A new factor is the appearance of Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Ju-ae, during the period when the borders were closed. As interest in Ju-ae grows, there is cautious speculation that this could lead to an increase in tourists.

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