NORTH KOREA HELD ITS FIRST FOREIGNER-FRIENDLY MARATHON

North Korea opened its annual Pyongyang marathon to foreign amateurs for the first time ever.
Of course, there were a few ground rules: no one was allowed to wave an American or Japanese flag, carry a camera or wear clothes that could be deemed too attention-grabbing or political – though one runner went ahead and wore blue jeans anyway.
Everything seemed to go very smoothly otherwise, with tens of thousands of North Koreans lining the streets to applaud the runners – who, according to officials, represented 27 different countries.
Professional athletes from around the world have been permitted to compete in the marathon for years, so it's likely that this year's changes are part of Kim Jong-un's plans to promote tourism in the country.