American’s ‘craziest experience’ at North Korea marathon, completes record task

When American Cameron Mofid stepped out of the airport in Pyongyang he became one of the first tourists to visit North Korea in more than five years – and completed his mission to visit every country in the world.

Mofid was one of about 200 foreigners who travelled to the secretive state’s capital last week for the Pyongyang International Marathon, which took place on April 6 and had not been held since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

North Korea reopened to Russian tourists in January 2024 and allowed visitors from other countries to enter the eastern city of Rason in February 2025, but later cancelled those tours without giving a reason.

This year, Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based agency listed as the marathon’s “exclusive travel partner”, got foreigners into the capital – but as athletes, not tourists.

“I’ve been to every country in the world. And I can say that’s the craziest experience I’ve had my entire life,” Mofid, who took part in the 10km event, said. “It’s hard to explain the feeling, but the adrenaline that you have going to the stadium with 50,000 people is like no other.”

The marathon was part of the country’s birthday celebrations for its founding leader, Kim Il-sung, and allowed Mofid to visit his 195th country.