North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in six years
North Korea on Sunday is holding its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, hosting foreign runners in the reclusive country that had largely closed its borders during the pandemic.
Athletes from China, Romania and other countries have arrived in North Korea to participate in the event, state media KCNA news agency and Rodong Sinmun reported on Sunday.
Advertisement
About 200 travelers came into Pyongyang on Friday and Saturday, and runners from overseas practiced at a hotel in Pyongyang for the Sunday race, said Simon Cockerell, general manager at Beijing-based Koryo Tours, in his Instagram posts showing streets and a recreational area in Pyongyang.
Participants start during the 30th Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 7, 2019. - Jon Chol Jin/AP/File
Koryo Tours is the official partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, helping arrange the sign-up process for international visitors for the event.
The isolated state sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023.
It allowed some Russian tourist groups into the country but its capital still remains closed to regular tourism.
Advertisement
The marathon is a return course run through central Pyongyang, passing Pyongyang's landmarks, heading out into the countryside just outside of the city centre, and coming back to the stadium with a crowd of 50,000 locals, according to Koryo Tours.
The Pyongyang International Marathon is one of the events celebrating the April 15 birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and grandfather of the current leader Kim Jong Un.
For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
5 hours ago
- New York Times
Quote of the Day: Games Show Robots' Potential, But Your Job Is Safe, for Now
'The robots are still dumb.' ALAN FERN, robotics professor at Oregon State, on how the Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing — featuring running, kickboxing and soccer — highlight advancements, and limitations, in robotics.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Victor Robles ejected after throwing bat at pitcher in Triple-A game, later apologizes
The Seattle Mariners' Victor Robles was ejected after throwing his bat at a pitcher while on a Triple-A rehab assignment with the Tacoma Rainiers. Robles later apologized for letting "frustration get the best of me" after the incident in the game on Sunday, Aug. 17. The bat-throwing incident occurred during the third inning against the Las Vegas Aviators and in Robles' second plate appearance of the game. Aviators pitcher Joey Estes nearly struck Robles on the first pitch of the at bat, with Robles actually fouling off the pitch that almost hit him in the hands. Tempers boiled over for Robles, who already had been hit by a pitch three times in five rehab games in Tacoma. Robles hurled his bat in the direction of the pitcher and was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Joe McCarthy. Robles wasn't done. After he was prevented from getting to Estes, Robles returned to the Rainiers' dugout and tossed a bucket of snacks onto the field. Victor Robles apologizes After his ejection, Robles posted an apology to his Instagram stories: "I want to take a moment to sincerely apologize for my recent reaction on the field. I let my frustration get the best of me, and I understand how that may have affected not just the game, but the energy and respect we all work so hard to maintain. "Coming off a long rehab and being away from the game for most of the season has been physically and mentally challenging. Adding to that, the recent passing of my mother has been incredibly hard, and I've been doing my best to hold it together. That's not an excuse, but some context I feel you deserve to understand where I'm coming from. "Getting hit 5 times in 15 at-bats added to that pressure, and I reacted in a way I'm not proud of. This game means the world to me, and so do the people who play it. I respect every one of you – my teammates, the opposing players, and everyone in this league. "I'm committed to being better, not just as a player, but as a teammate and competitor. I appreciate your understanding, and I'm grateful to be back on the field doing what I love. Thank you." Who is Victor Robles? Robles has appeared in 10 games for the Mariners this season, but was on a rehab assignment after dislocating his left shoulder in April. Robles had a batting average of .273 in 44 at bats for the Mariners in 2025. This is Robles' ninth Major League Baseball season, having spent eight seasons with the Washington Nationals (2017-2024) before joining the Mariners in 2024. He was a member of the Nationals' 2019 World Series-winning team and hit a home run in the Nationals' NLCS Game 3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
New York Post
10 hours ago
- New York Post
Rising baseball prospect, 14, dead after drowning in Dominican Republic
A rising 14-year-old baseball prospect from the Dominican Republic drowned in a lagoon near one of the country's top academies. The body of Gustavo Talmare, who hit four home runs to earn the 2024 Caribbean Kids Series MVP, was found dead 40 minutes from the academy on Saturday, according to Diaro Libre. Talmare went missing after he went swimming in Guerra's Laguna del Toro on Friday night, and rescue efforts spilled into the morning. 3 Youth baseball player Gustavo Talmare died at the age of 14. the_king_manin / Instagram It remains unclear what happened, but a police investigation is underway. 'I was devastated to learn about it,' Amaurys Nina, a prominent youth coach and the academy's owner, told 'The body was recovered by a rescue organization, but I still don't understand what it was doing there. The authorities are investigating what happened.' Talmare, who had only lived at the academy for two months, was said to have struggled to swim after he was one of three academy students — from a group of five — who decided to leave the facility without permission and swim in the lagoon, academy officials told Diario Libre. Talamare went reaching for fruit in the lagoon and fell in, according to One companion's efforts to save Talamare were unsuccessful as Talamare lost oxygen and could not get out of the water. His death was ruled a 'asphyxiation by immersion,' or drowning. 3 Youth baseball player Gustavo Talmare died at the age of 14. mikedeportes / Instagram His parents are asking for more information. Talmare's mother, María Esther Pimentel, disputed the academy's version of the events to DeUltimoMinuto, claiming her son would not be one to be 'naughty' and break the rules by leaving on his own. She also said the family had taught him how to swim. 3 Youth baseball player Gustavo Talmare died at the age of 14. He was described by one scout to Diario Libre as someone who had 'promise' and improved his skills 'exponentially' over the past year. Nina called Talmare a player who was 'very disciplined and obedient.'
