North Korean Marathon Open To Fast Foreigners

The normally secretive city of Pyongyang has agreed to open its streets to tourists by allowing foreign runners to compete in its annual marathon.

However, amateur athletes taking on the 26-mile tour of North Korea's capital must cross the finish line within four hours, or face being led back to the 70,000-seater stadium where the race begins.

Despite the threat, tourism companies say they have been inundated with foreigners seeking a place in the April 13 event, which will offer a rare glimpse into life in the North Korean capital.

Kim Il Sung Stadium is used to mark major anniversaries in North Korea

The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon has previously only been open to a select group of elite runners, with men and women required to finish within two hours 27 minutes and two hours 38 minutes respectively.

Simon Cockerell, a Beijing-based travel agent, said: "I think a lot of the attraction is the Pyongyang part rather than the marathon part.

"A lot of the people going along to take part are interested in simply doing something a bit unusual, something that would cause a bit of (discomfort) among friends of theirs when they tell them they ran a marathon in North Korea."

Runners will lap many famous landmarks, including Pyongyang's Taedong River

The marathon will start at the stadium named after North Korea's first leader, Kim Il Sung, before passing the Monument to Chinese Soldiers and Kim Il Sung University, crossing over the Taedong River and returning to the stadium - a lap of the city that must be completed four times.

The gruelling race coincides with commemorations to mark the 102nd anniversary of Mr Kim's birth on April 15.

North Korea's government recently announced plans to boost tourism, opening a luxury ski resort aimed at winter sports enthusiasts from abroad among other initiatives.

Kim Jong Un and Dennis Rodman watch a basketball game in Pyongyang

Sport is also being given a higher profile in the country, with leader Kim Jong Un famously meeting US basketball star Dennis Rodman earlier this year.

The retired sportsman sang Happy Birthday to the 31-year-old, before declaring: "I love the guy. He's my friend, forever and ever and ever."

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