Despite the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's warnings that the threat of war is so high it cannot guarantee the safety of foreign residents, it hosted athletes from around the world for an international marathon held as part of celebrations for late president Kim Il-sung's birthday. The race through the DPRK capital on Sunday suggested that the country's concerns of an imminent military crisis might not be as dire as its official pronouncements proclaim.

On Sunday morning, athletes from 16 nations competed in the 26th Mangyongdae Prize Marathon. In the afternoon, tourists filled a performance hall for a gala concert featuring ethnic Korean performers brought in from China, Russia and Japan as part of the events culminating in Kim's birthday, called the "Day of the Sun".

After racing through the capital, the foreign athletes and hundreds of DPRK runners were cheered into Kim Il-sung Stadium by tens of thousands of DPRK spectators.

Having foreign athletes and performers as part of the birthday celebrations is part of Pyongyang's motivation to highlight the events to its public. In recent weeks, Pyongyang has said it could not vouch for the safety of foreigners, indicated embassies consider evacuation plans and urged foreigners residing in the Republic of Korea to get out as well.

AP

(China Daily 04/16/2013 page11)