North Korea held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, with hundreds of runners leading the streets of the capital.

In 1912, many foreign athletes arrived in the city before Sunday’s competition, part of the birth of the country’s founding leader Kim Il Sung.

Photos show foreign runners crossing the starting line of Kim Il Sung Stadium, with some taking pictures as North Korean audience cheering them on.

Another image shows North Korea and foreign runners competing on the streets of Pyongyang, with citizens flaunting the route.

The marathon is the largest international sporting event in the seclusion country, providing visitors with a rare opportunity to run on the streets of the tightly controlled capital.

Images were posted on Koryo Tours’ general manager Simon Cockerell’s Instagram account, the tour’s general manager organized a tour for foreign amateur runners and showed the crowd cheering as the athletes passed.

“Several photos of the Pyongyang Marathon today in North Korea. Amazing event and a unique race,” Kacrel wrote.

The final edition of the marathon was held in 2019. The following year, nuclear-weapon states blocked their borders to curb the Covid-19-19 pandemic.

“The Pyongyang Marathon is a very unique experience because it provides opportunities to interact with locals,” Koryo Tours said on its website. “There is really nothing else in the real experience.”

“North Korea is a complex and interesting place that attracts many people,” Cochrell told ABC SBS.

“While this is certainly not everyone, it will certainly attract people who are curious about the experience of visiting such a country and seeing what they can do.”

The marathon is listed on the Global Council World Track and Field Sport website.

In 2019, about 950 foreigners participated in about 450 of the previous year. About 180 runners from overseas are expected to participate this year.