Sawt Falasteen - Runners fly to North Korea for first post-Covid Pyongyang Marathon

The marathon is part of celebrations marking the birth of North Korea's founding leader Kim Il Sung in 1912 and is the largest international sporting event in the reclusive country.

It is scheduled to take place on Sunday, offering a rare opportunity to run through the streets of the tightly controlled capital.

The last edition of the Pyongyang Marathon was held in 2019, after which it was suspended because of the pandemic, which prompted the nuclear-armed state to seal its borders in an effort to quell the virus.

With North Korea tentatively reopening, foreign participants departed from the Chinese capital on a six-day visit organised by Koryo Tours.

The travel agency specialises in trips to North Korea and describes itself as the exclusive travel partner of the marathon.

"Participants departed today," an agency official told AFP.

A group of foreigners was seen boarding an Air Koryo commercial flight from Beijing to Pyongyang in a video posted on the company's Instagram account.

"The Pyongyang Marathon is an extremely unique experience as it provides an opportunity to interact with locals," the Beijing-based firm said on its website.

"An experience truly like no other."

The marathon is listed on the website of global governing body World Athletics.

In 2019, about 950 Westerners took part in the race, up from the roughly 450 recorded the previous year.

This year, about 200 foreign runners were expected to compete, along with more than 200 North Koreans, Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, recently told Australian broadcaster SBS.

"North Korea is a complex and fascinating place that intrigues many people, and while it is certainly not for everyone, it definitely appeals to those curious about the experience of visiting such a country and seeing what they can," he said.

B.AbuZeid--SF-PST