North Korean authorities have announced that they will now allow foreign amateur runners to take part in the 2015 Pyongyang marathon, a statement released by the New York based Uri Tours said on Wednesday.

The announcement is a surprise reversal of a previous decision, made on February 23, to cancel the event for foreign participants due to strict anti-Ebloa measures. But while amateur runners will now be allowed to take part in the marathon, the participation of professional runners has not yet been confirmed.

“We have just been informed that the Mangyongdae Prize Marathon Committee have decided to re-open the