North Korea Bans Foreign Runners Over Ebola

North Korea has banned foreign marathon runners from the annual Pyongyang marathon amid fears of Ebola, despite the secretive country having no previous recorded cases of the virus.

The race through the streets of the capital, known officially as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, was opened to outsiders for the first time last year with huge success.

Hundreds of foreigners had signed up to run in this year's event on 12 April, attracted by the rare chance to compete in the mysterious country.

But tour operators have been told that the race is now only open to North Korean runners, due to fear of Ebola, the virus that has killed more than 9,000 people in west Africa - but not infected anyone in North Korea or the surrounding region.

North Korea shut its doors to tourists in October because of Ebola and the country's media has previously suggested the disease was created by the US military as a biological weapon.

Nick Bonner, co-founder of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, says more than 400 foreign runners had signed up with his agency alone for the event.

He hopes the restrictions may be relaxed by the end of February but added: "It would still be too late for the marathon as the organisers need a long time to organise visas and other things."

Another tour agency Young Pioneer Tours has confirmed on its website that it has cancelled its tours for the race.

The news comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un orders increased combat readiness in his country, describing tensions with its neighbours as graver than ever before.

He is under UN pressure over the country's deteriorating human rights record and faces new US sanctions over the hacking of Sony Pictures in December. Meanwhile, the US is due to begin military exercises with South Korea.

The marathon is in its 27th year and is part of a series of sporting competitions, arts festivals and cultural events marking the birthday of North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung, on 15 April.

It is also part of North Korea's attempts to boost its tourism industry in recent years, along with setting up tourism zones, developing scenic areas and recreational facilities but, while thousands of Chinese tourists visit each year, visitors from further afield are rare.

The numbers have fallen further since the restrictions in October, with visas for non-essential travel stopped and all foreigners, including diplomats, aid workers and North Koreans returning from overseas, technically being subject to quarantine measures for 21 days.

It is not the first time the reclusive nation has shut its doors to foreigners over disease fears - in 2003, it suspended tours for three months due to the spread of SARS.