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Pyongyang marathon in North Korea allows foreign runners

Pyongyang Marathon

North Korea marathon

If you really want to, you are allowed to go to North Korea in April and celebrate the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current leader, Kim Jong Un, by running a marathon.

This past April was the first time in which non-elite Western runners were allowed to participate in the Pyongyang Marathon. In the 27-year history of the race, the only non-Korean runners allowed to participate in the event were elites. This past April, approximately 225 foreign runners took part in the races, including a marathon, half and 10K. Race organizers have just announced that the race will once again be open to foreign runners.

Curious about seeing the intensely guarded capital city of Pyongyang? Well, you won’t be able to carry your phone while running, so there goes your photos to show your friends at home. The race course is limited to four laps of the city centre, which past runners saw as an attempt to limit how much of the city they experienced. The race starts at Kim Il-sung Stadium, passes the Arch of Triumph, Friendship Tower and then continues through Kim Il-Sung University, after crossing a bridge and travelling along the riverbank, it returns to arch to repeat the loop.

Just exactly how much does such a trip cost? For an eight-day tour, including accommodation, return travel from Beijing, food, transportation and two English speaking tour guides (who must accompany you at all times), the price tag is about $1,655. The four day option is around $1075. There is only one agency that is authorized to organize tour groups for the race, an organization called My Tour Agent.

Wondering about how you plan your trip? Tour groups specializing in travel to North Korea are the easiest way to make plans. Watch out for package deals, some do and some do not include the extra costs like a travel visa and “the obligatory flowers offered at the Mansudae Grand Monument commemorating late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il” according to the South China Morning Post.

It should also be noted that the Government of Canada advises against all travel to North Korea due to the presence of nuclear weapons and an oppressive governmental regime. There is no Canadian embassy in the country, which makes it difficult for Canada to intervene on the behalf of travellers in the event of an emergency.

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