Pyongyang Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Pyongyang International Marathon, formerly the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, is a road marathon held in April in the North Korean capital. It was first run in 1981 as part of the celebrations for the birthday of the country's founding leader Kim Il Sung on 15 April. The race starts and finishes at the Kim Il Sung Stadium, passing through central Pyongyang and landmarks including the Arch of Triumph and out into the countryside before returning through the city to the stadium, where tens of thousands of spectators fill the stands. Races over the marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km are offered. The race was held annually until 2019 and then suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 31st edition on 6 April 2025 was its first in six years. Foreign amateurs have been allowed to enter since 2014, but only as part of an organised tour, and the partner Koryo Tours has said that holders of certain passports, including South Korean, U.S., Malaysian and Japanese, are prohibited. The 2026 race, planned for 5 April, was cancelled by the DPR Korea Athletics Association in March 2026 for unspecified reasons, and no date has been announced for 2027.