Pyongyang International Marathon, a rare tourist event, is abruptly cancelled for 2026 with authorities citing “some reasons” for the decision.

BEIJING: North Korea has abruptly cancelled the Pyongyang International Marathon scheduled for early next month.

Beijing-based tour agency Koryo Tours, which describes itself as the event’s exclusive travel partner, said the decision was communicated by North Korean athletics authorities.

A message from the DPR Korea Athletics Association stated it will “cancel the 2026 Pyongyang International Marathon this year due to some reasons”, without providing any elaboration.

Koryo Tours said the cancellation was “unexpected” and understood the decision “has been taken at a level above the organisers of the event itself”.

The marathon is the largest international sporting event held in the reclusive, nuclear-armed country.

It offers visitors a rare chance to run through the tightly controlled streets of the capital.

This year’s race was slated for April 5, which would have been just its second running since 2019.

The event returned last year from a pandemic-induced pause, seen as a sign of tentative post-pandemic reopening.

The 2025 race saw about 200 foreign runners participate, along with more than 200 North Koreans.

That figure was significantly lower than in 2019, when about 950 foreigners took part.

 The Sun Malaysia