The race, also known as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, is considered to be one of North Korea’s largest sporting events.

It is held annually in April, with the event starting in the 50,000-capacity Kim Il-sung Stadium and travelling past Pyongyang’s main landmarks.

Around 1,000 international runners participated in last year’s race in the normally isolated nation.

The Pyongyang Marathon is typically held before the country’s most important holiday, the Day of the Sun, which takes place on April 15.

The date celebrates the birth of the Kim Il-sung, the first leader of North Korea.

This year’s event had been due to take place on April 12, with marathon, half-marathon, 10-kilometre and 5km races scheduled.

Koryo Tours, the travel partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, confirmed the event has been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The outbreak has led to North Korea closing its borders.

“The cancellation of the Pyongyang Marathon 2020 comes as a great disappointment to the many people who had signed on to participate in the event and had been waiting patiently for further updates,” Koryo Tours said.

“We are grateful to all those affected for their patience and understanding during this difficult time, and saddened that we can't bring you to participate in the Pyongyang Marathon 2020.

“We will shortly have the date for the Pyongyang Marathon 2021 confirmed and will be working on tours for the Pyongyang Marathon next year.

“As soon as we have confirmed the Pyongyang Marathon 2021 date confirmed, we will update everyone as soon as possible.”

Organisers have also encouraged entrants to the 2020 Pyongyang Marathon to contact their travel company for further information.

The 2015 Pyongyang Marathon had nearly been closed to international entrants due to the Ebola virus, although North Korean officials reopened their border a month prior to the race.

No cases of the coronavirus have been reported in North Korea today.

Nearly 79,000 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide to date, with 2,466 deaths having been reported.

Most cases have come in China, where around 77,000 have been reported.

Numerous sporting events have been either postponed or cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak, with the Pyongyang Marathon among the latest to be impacted.

The Pyongyang Marathon was the subject of an Olympic Channel documentary, featuring Britain’s Aimee Fuller and Switzerland’s Mirjam Jaeger.

The Olympians completed the marathon and experienced the local sporting culture in North Korea.