Latest news with #SimonCockerell
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
As Pyongyang marathon returns, North Korea's tourism remains frozen amid Russian pivot
When Simon Cockerell returned to the Pyongyang International Marathon last month after a five-year break, he felt a familiar energy – but the landscape had clearly shifted. Advertisement The general manager of Koryo Tours, the marathon's official travel partner, brought just 200 international visitors to North Korea , a stark drop from the 700 his company hosted in 2019. He attributed the smaller turnout to a combination of stricter access, limited travel options, and a reduced registration period. Unlike previous marathons announced nearly a year in advance, this year's race was confirmed only a month before the event on April 6, giving participants barely two weeks to register. Flights from Beijing were the only international entry point, and instead of the usual five to seven hotels, only one – managed by the athletics association in North Korea – was available. Visitors toured local landmarks and sampled North Korean beer, but under the official designation of a 'sports delegation', not tourists. Analysts say the highly restricted format – along with North Korea's general reluctance to reopen its borders to foreign visitors – reflects a deeper strategic shift. Amid tighter information controls and a growing military and economic partnership with Russia , Pyongyang appears to be turning its back on international tourism in favour of more politically aligned and financially dependable avenues of engagement. The costs of tourism have outweighed the benefits, and it seems North Korean decision-makers have come to realise that Dr Rüdiger Frank, analyst North Korea has remained largely closed to tourists since it sealed its borders in 2020 at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic . While Russian nationals have been allowed in since early 2024 , a brief reopening in February to non-Russian visitors in the northeastern city of Rason lasted just three weeks before the border was closed again without explanation.
Asharq Al-Awsat
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
North Korea Holds First Pyongyang International Marathon in Six Years
North Korea on Sunday held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, hosting foreign runners in the reclusive country that has largely closed its borders since the pandemic. Athletes from China, Romania and other countries visited to participate in the event, state media KCNA news agency and Rodong Sinmun reported on Sunday. About 200 foreigners arrived on Friday and Saturday in Pyongyang where those running practiced at a hotel for the Sunday race, said Simon Cockerell, general manager at Beijing-based Koryo Tours, in Instagram posts showing streets and a recreational area in Pyongyang. The Koryo Tours is an official partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, aiding the sign-up process for international competitors. The isolated state sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023. It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country, but its capital remains closed to regular tourism. The marathon is a return course running through central Pyongyang, passing major landmarks and heading out into the countryside before coming back through the city to a stadium filled with 50,000 spectators, Koryo Tours said. At the stadium, a crowd of North Koreans - some wearing masks - greeted the runners, and foreign participants took pictures of the spectators with mobile phones, pictures posted by Cockerell showed. Local media have yet to announce the victor. The Pyongyang International Marathon is one of several events held to celebrate the April 15 birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un.
CNN
06-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
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. 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. 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. 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.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
North Korea holding first Pyongyang Marathon in six years
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. - Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/Reuters/File 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
NBC News
06-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC News
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. 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. The 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. The marathon is a return course run through central Pyongyang, passing Pyongyang's landmarks, heading out into the countryside just outside of the city center, 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.
