North Korea to host international marathon Sept. 23

Competitors run through Kim Il-Sung square during the Pyongyang Marathon in the North Korean capital in this photo taken on April 9, 2017. / AFP

North Korea said Tuesday that the Pyongyang International Autumn Marathon will be held Sept. 23 in the North's capital for the second year in a row.

DPR Korea Tour, a website run by the North's National Tourism Administration, announced the date of this fall's international marathon event, inviting marathon enthusiasts from all over the world and regions to Pyongyang.

The event, which includes 5-kilometer, 10K, and half and full marathons, will begin and end on the road in front of Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace in central Pyongyang, with full course runners needing to run four laps on a route throughout the city, according to the website.

"The second Pyongyang International Autumn Marathon is expected to draw huge attention from marathon lovers worldwide, as the event has been scheduled for September to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of (North Korea)," it said.

Last year, Pyongyang hosted the autumn marathon event on Oct. 29 but appears to have moved up the date to September to help amplify the celebratory mood on the occasion of the founding anniversary that falls on Sept. 9, watchers say.

North Korea has organized the Pyongyang Marathon in April every year since 1981 in celebration of the April 15 birthday of the late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung.

The autumn marathon event was held for the first time in 2017. Last year's event drew about 240 runners from North Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Britain. (Yonhap)