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British runner wins North Korea half-marathon

A 30-year-old runner from Stafford has won a half-marathon held in North Korea's capital Pyongyang, after it was opened to foreigners for the first time.

Briton Will Marks won a half-marathon in North Korea's capital Pyongyang, which was opened to foreigners for the first time Credit: AP

Will Marks, who lives in Shanghai, completed the race in 1 hour 23 minutes, and was among about 150 foreign runners to compete in front of 70,000 onlookers.

Mr Marks stayed in North Korea for three nights before the race on Sunday, but was not allowed to move around the city unaccompanied.

Officials checked participants' running gear several days before the race, and also made sure that hairstyles matched new guidelines that require all men to have short back and sides like President Kim Jong-Un.