According to a Radio Free Asia (RFA) report on Thursday, North Korean tour agencies have begun promoting and recruiting participants for the upcoming Pyongyang International Marathon.
RFA reports that Korea Consult, a Sweden-based travel agency specializing in North Korean tours, has announced on its website that the Pyongyang International Marathon will be held on April 13.
The company promotes the event as open to amateur and professional athletes worldwide. It also highlights that after the marathon begins, non-participants can enjoy local soccer matches at the Kim Il Sung Stadium.
However, individual registrations are not accepted. Participants must book through cooperating partners such as authorized travel agencies to register.
KTG, another travel agency based in Shenyang, China, also advertises the Pyongyang International Marathon on its website and takes reservations for participants and spectators.
According to KTG, participants will fly to Beijing, China, then take a train from Dandong to Pyongyang.
North Korea’s Sports Ministry recently released information about the 31st Pyongyang International Marathon on its website, Chosun Sports. It has been announced that the event will occur in Pyongyang on April 6.
The Pyongyang International Marathon is an annual international event held in April to commemorate Kim Il Sung’s birthday (Day of the Sun, April 15). However, the event has been suspended since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite North Korea announcing this year’s event date, some experts remain skeptical about its confirmation. NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet focusing on North Korean affairs, reports that Koryo Tours, a tour agency previously involved in recruiting for the Pyongyang Marathon, has not yet received any official notice from North Korean authorities. Adding to the uncertainty, a noticeable discrepancy exists between the dates announced by Korea Consult and those on the Chosun Sports website.
Last year, North Korea also announced plans for an April marathon but canceled it three months before.