North Korea has approved approved a United States-based travel agency to offer a tour package for the 2015 Pyongyang Marathon, according to a report by Radio Free Asia [RFA] on November 6th. The race, scheduled for April 11th, 2015, is designated as a bronze-label event by the IAAF. It has been held annually for 27 years, but opened for the first time to recreational athletes last year.

Uri Tours, which is based in New Jersey, received official approval to sell the package, which includes a direct flight from Shanghai to Pyongyang on Air Koryo, North Korea’s flag carrier.

The six night, seven day travel package costs 2,400 USD and allows the marathon participants the opportunity to tour Kim Il Sung Stadium, the start and finish location for the annual event. Excursions around Pyongyang, Kaesong, and the DMZ  also feature among the activities offered as part of the package.

Notably, the marathon participants will not be placed with North Korean monitors, referred to as “minders,” and all nationalities are welcome to engage in the competition, known officially as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon.

The Beijing-based Koryo Tours said that the inclusion of amateur athletes in the event for the first time last year was a popular move-- with some 200 amateur runners from countries including China, Russia, Germany and Ukraine participating. 30% of the those who used the Koryo Tours service were from the United States.