In this regard, Ryu Ok Hyon, deputy secretary of the DPRK Marathon Association, told KCNA:

The marathon event, held to mark President Kim Il Sung's birth anniversary (April 15), was a significant one full of reverence for him of the Korean people and other progressive people across the world.

The annual event has ever grown in scale.

The current event was attended by more than 600 men and women from 10 counties and regions, including the DPRK, Ukraine, Italy, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.

It served as a good occasion in promoting friendship and solidarity among sportspersons of various countries and exchanging experiences with each other.

Some of the participants made a good job in the race and DPRK girls renewed their records.

Ethiopia and the DPRK came first in men's and women's events respectively.