North Korea welcomed amateurs to their annual Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon on Sunday (April 10th); North Korean pros Pak Chol and Kim Ji Hyang won the race.

No flags or comedy outfits at this marathon on Sunday (10 April). If you don't recognise the location it's because so few people ever get to see it. Amateurs travelled from all over the world to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, to seize an unusual opportunity to view the secretive state on foot - for 26.2 miles.

Nearly 1000 foreigners were welcomed for this race - constiuting a fifth of the total usually entitled to visit in a whole year.

The race, named the Mangyongdae Prize Marathon, celebrates the place where founder of the nation Kim Il Sung was reportedly born.

An international elite field didn't really turn up - they weren't invited - so it was downgraded from a Bronze Label Race.

700 professionals did compete however: happily producing a North Korean winner in both men's and women's races.

Pak Chol won the men's in 2 hours 14 minutes and 10 seconds. While Kim Ji Hyang won the women's in 2 hours 28 minutes and 5 seconds.

Runners were diligently cheered into the gigantic May Day Stadium to complete the race here, after a shop window route around the capital.

We'll see you there next year....