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Lars Hamer

When American Cameron Mofid stepped out of the airport in Pyongyang he became one of the first tourists to visit North Korea in more than five years – and completed his mission to visit every country in the world.
Mofid was one of about 200 foreigners who travelled to the secretive state’s capital this month for the Pyongyang International Marathon, which took place on April 6 and had not been held since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
North Korea reopened to Russian tourists in January 2024 and allowed visitors from other countries to enter the eastern city of Rason in February this year, but later cancelled those tours without giving a reason.
This year, Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based agency listed as the marathon’s “exclusive travel partner”, got foreigners into the capital – but as athletes, not tourists.
“I’ve been to every country in the world. And I can say that’s the craziest experience I’ve had my entire life,” Mofid, who took part in the 10km event, said. “It’s hard to explain the feeling, but the adrenaline that you have going to the stadium with 50,000 people is like no other.”
The marathon was part of the country’s birthday celebrations for its founding leader, Kim Il-sung, and allowed Mofid to visit his 195th country.

“North Korea was my 195th and final country. And by many standards, I’m the youngest person to have ever been to every country,” the 25-year-old said.
Guinness World Records recognises American Lexie Alford as the “youngest person to travel to all sovereign countries” when she completed the feat at 21 years old in 2019.
However, Nomad Mania, which gives the title of the youngest person to have visited all 193 member states of the United Nations to Mofid, does not recognise trips to the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea – which is how Alford completed her journey across the globe – as having visited the country.
As an American citizen, Alford cannot enter North Korea, but Mofid, who has also visited Palestine and the Vatican City, was able to do so via another citizenship he holds, but asked for that information to be withheld.
A promising tennis player when he was younger, Mofid had a world junior ranking before an elbow injury forced him to step away from the game. While at university he fell in love with travelling and decided that when he graduated he would attempt to visit every country in the world.
He had previously tried to enter North Korea with a Swedish delegation of table tennis investors. He also attempted to go to the eastern city of Rason when they allowed visitors earlier this year. Both trips were cancelled before departure.
Before North Korea closed its borders in 2020, tourists would return with stories of the country hiring actors to give the appearance of life being normal and not ravaged by poverty and famine, as is often reported.
Mofid said he saw people riding the metro and visited a bowling alley “full of people” that he believed was not faked, but acknowledged he did not see everything.
“But the picture was very different from what we expected,” Mofid said. “I expected decaying, decrepit buildings and malnourished people, but we didn’t see any of that.”

Claus Randrup from Denmark also joined the trip, which ran from April 3 to 8, and he said he did not believe there were actors filling the streets and stores.
But he thought parts were choreographed, such as when passengers on the metro were told to move to the car where the foreigners were, or when a visit to a shopping centre was only approved “a couple of hours before”.
“That was definitely a moment where I felt it was organised, like part of a movie or a play,” he said. “But I think, because [the whole trip] was organised on such short notice, we actually got to blend in more with the locals.”
Randrup said that he was surprised by how much they were able to explore the city. He also said locals showed him North Korea’s state-controlled social media, where one person was using a YouTube-style platform to watch 60-second highlights of this season’s Champions League games.


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Marathons

American’s ‘craziest experience’ at North Korea marathon, completes record task

Cameron Mofid in Pyongyang, North Korea – the 195th country he has visited. Photo: Cameron Mofid

Cameron Mofid after completing the 10km run at the Pyongyang International Marathon. Photo: Cameron Mofid 

Denmark’s Claus Randrup was surprised by how much they were able to explore the city. Photo: Claus Randrup

North Korea holds first Pyongyang marathon since closing borders during Covid-19 pandemic

Runners at the Pyongyang International Marathon, which passed major landmarks and heading out into the countryside before coming back through the city to the stadium. Photo: AFP

A huge crowd at Kim Il-sung Stadium greeting the participants of the marathon. Photo: AFP

A North Korean runner was first to cross the line, state TV said. Photo: AFP

Manchester United great Dwight Yorke outlines how Hong Kong can gain international success

Former Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke, visiting TWGHs Tsoi Wing Sing Primary School. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Ex- Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke signing autographs. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Dwight Yorke (right) enjoying playing football with Hong Kong schoolchildren. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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Cameron Mofid’s 10km in Pyongyang race means 25-year-old has now visited every country in the world


Cameron Mofid’s 10km in Pyongyang race means 25-year-old has now visited every country in the world.


American’s ‘craziest experience’ at North Korea marathon, completes record task

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Cameron Mofid’s 10km in Pyongyang race means 25-year-old has now visited every country in the world

Cameron Mofid’s 10km in Pyongyang race means 25-year-old has now visited every country in the world