North Korea has abruptly cancelled the sold-out Pyongyang International Marathon, scheduled for 5 April 2026, without providing a reason. The decision was communicated to Koryo Tours, a British-owned tour operator based in Beijing, via a letter from North Korea's Athletics Association stating the event was called off 'due to some reasons'.
Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, which is an official international partner of the event, said the true reason may never be known. 'Sadly, the way things work there is that real information can be elusive and often never really available, so we have to accept that we will probably never know what the true reason or reasons may be,' he told The Independent.
Koryo Tours stated that once such decisions are formally communicated, they are typically final, and no reversal is expected. The agency apologised for the disappointment and said it would continue to seek clarification. Cockerell added that the event will not be rescheduled, as there is only one marathon in North Korea, and with tourism still suspended, participants cannot visit the country otherwise.
The marathon had returned in 2025 after a five-year suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All 500 spots sold out in less than five hours when registration opened in December 2025. Koryo Tours believes the decision was made 'at a level above the organisers of the event itself'. All deposits will be refunded, or runners may choose to keep their deposit for a future event or tour.
The cancellation has sparked speculation in South Korean media, with theories ranging from the Iran conflict to a possible summit between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for late March to early April. The Pyongyang Marathon is the largest international sporting event in the reclusive country, held annually to celebrate the birth of founding leader Kim Il Sung.
