North Korea bans foreigners from marathon amid Ebola fears

North Korea's borders have remained closed to foreign tourists since last October, for fear the virus might spread, and it imposes a strict 21-day quarantine for foreign aid workers and diplomats.

Marathon runners pass by a North Korean soldier during the marathon in Pyongyang in 2013. David Guttenfelder/AP Photo

SEOUL // North Korea has banned foreign runners from participating in a marathon scheduled to be held in the capital in April over fears about the spread of the Ebola virus.

North Korea is thousands of kilometres from the centre of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and has reported no cases of the virus, which has killed more than 9,000 people.

Nonetheless, its borders have remained closed to foreign tourists since last October, for fear the virus might spread, and it imposes a strict 21-day quarantine for foreign aid workers and diplomats, who have been told to stay in embassy compounds.

“Our North Korean partners in Pyongyang contacted us this morning with news that the 2015 Pyongyang Marathon has — as of today — been closed to amateur and professional foreign runners,” Nick Bonner, director of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, said.

Young Pioneer Tours, another China-based tour agency which takes Western tourists into North Korea, confirmed the ban.

Pyongyang, the isolated and secretive country’s capital, has held an international marathon most years since 1981. Foreign amateurs were allowed to compete for the first time last year.

“We were told that this is due to the continuing precautions that the country has put in place in relation to fears held there over the Ebola virus,” said Mr Bonner. He said Koryo Tours had expected to take up to 500 people to North Korea for the marathon, which would have been his largest-ever tour group.

The company had been selling tours, which included the marathon, for between €790 (Dh3,300) and €1,690.

North Korea has also cancelled its annual “Mass Games” event this year, without citing a reason, travel agencies said.

The summer event, which features thousands of athletes and schoolchildren in tightly choreographed displays, is another major attraction on North Korea’s tourist calendar.

North Korea has strictly enforced its Ebola countermeasures. Earlier in February, the foreign ministry sent a note warning foreign diplomats under quarantine not to hold any meetings or parties.

“It is still unclear when the borders will be reopened, but we were also advised not to cancel our March tours, and to expect an update on the border situation at the end of February,” said Mr Bonner.

*Reuters