Tracking your runs is second nature for most athletes, but what if logging a workout got you banned? That’s exactly what happened when our own Koryo Tours staff uploaded a run from North Korea.
As an avid runner, I love tracking my runs worldwide using running apps to keep a record - and, of course, for the bragging rights!
It’s great to have proof of where I’ve run during my travels.
One of the most popular running tracker apps is Strava, which, as of 2024, has a global community of over 135 million registered users across more than 190 countries.
For Koryo Tours staff, who frequently travel to unusual destinations like Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and North Korea, tracking activities in remote and off-the-beaten-path locations adds an exciting element to our adventures.
With the upcoming Pyongyang Marathon 2025 and two full tours of runners preparing to participate, one of the most common questions we hear is: Can you use Strava in North Korea?
Recently, one of our team members had her Strava account banned after uploading an activity tracked in North Korea.
Now, we’re diving into what happened and why.
Strava banned my account for running in North Korea!
During our March 2025 tour to Rason, North Korea, Koryo Tours leader Zoe went for a hike in Rason, North Korean’s far east and later uploaded the workout to her Strava account via Garmin Connect.
Shortly after, her account was suspended.
She reached out to her network and eventually connected with an official Strava contact, who investigated the issue and provided answers.
The fateful North Korean hiking adventure outside Rason!
Strava’s Explanation: Can You Track Runs in North Korea?
Strava states that, in compliance with U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), their platform does not allow activities posted from North Korea.
Read here for OFAC North Korea Sanctions
(An easy and enjoyable read!)
Their policy follows a zero-tolerance approach, meaning any activity tagged in North Korea leads to an immediate account suspension or deletion.
According to Strava:
“In accordance with mandatory U.S. Sanctions and Export Controls, which prohibit the offering of online services to North Korea, Strava does not allow users to post activities occurring there. This is also directly stated in our Terms of Service (‘[users] may not use or export the Content in violation of U.S. Export Laws and Regulations’). All accounts on Strava are subject to our Terms of Service agreement.”
The Strava Support Team confirmed that Zoe’s activity, a hiking session, was deleted. However, since the upload originally synced from Garmin Connect, she could still access the data there - just not on Strava.
After a lengthy back-and-forth with Strava Support, Zoe’s account was finally reinstated. Following their review, Strava confirmed that there were no pending suspensions.
The official response from the Strava Support Team.
Why Such a Strict Policy?
Many platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and Garmin Connect, allow content uploaded from North Korea. Even news outlets regularly publish media from inside the country.
However, Strava seems to interpret U.S. sanctions more strictly than any other major tech platform.
When asked for a list of other restricted countries, Strava declined to provide specifics, only stating that their policies follow OFAC guidelines.
Based on available data, other countries that may face similar restrictions include Cuba, Iran, and Syria.
Interestingly, some Koryo Tours staff have recently tracked their runs and other activities using Strava in North Korea, Iran, Yemen, and Syria - yet only North Korea triggered an account suspension.
Can You Use Strava in North Korea?
Despite Strava's strict policies, there have been recorded Strava activities in North Korea, including several entries from 2019.
We spoke with a runner who participated (and won the foreigner category!) in the 10K distance of the Pyongyang Marathon that year, and successfully logged their run with Strava.
According to them:
“I never used Strava live—I only ever recorded and uploaded later. As I recall, I uploaded it when I got out of the country. For most visitors, this is the only option. It’s possible to buy a SIM card in North Korea, but it’s very expensive, so most people enjoy the digital detox unless they urgently need to call home. At the time, I think I had a Garmin, so it would have synced via Garmin Connect once I landed in Beijing.”
This runner logged multiple activities across North Korea, including cycling routes.
Outside the marathon route, most Strava users in North Korea appear to be resident diplomats (such as Colin Crooks, the British Ambassador to North Korea (2018-2021), rather than tourists.
A verified Strava entry from Pyongyang, North Korea - recorded in 2019
Other Running Tracker Apps in North Korea
At this time, we don’t have first-hand experience using other popular running tracker apps in North Korea, such as: Runkeeper, Garmin Connect, Google Fit, MapMyRun by Under Armour, Apple Fitness+, and others.
While no specific bans on these apps have been reported, they all rely on GPS and internet connectivity, both of which are restricted in North Korea.
This means their functionality would likely be limited or unavailable.
You should also be cautious with virtual runs set in North Korea, as one Strava user found out the hard way.
Even a treadmill run with a virtual route mapped to North Korea was enough to trigger an account suspension.
Local Alternatives: North Korea fitness tracking apps
North Korea has developed its own navigation apps, such as:
- "Fellow Traveler"
- "My Traveling Companion"
These apps do not use GPS but instead rely on manual location inputs - likely due to security concerns.
What Does This Mean for the Pyongyang Marathon?
The Pyongyang Marathon has been held for decades, with over 1,000 foreigners participating annually.
While runners are still welcome, it’s clear that tracking your run on Strava might not be the best idea - unless you’re prepared to risk losing your account.
For now, it’s unclear whether Strava will revise its policy, but one thing is certain: Running in North Korea might not get you banned from the country - but it could get you banned from your fitness app.
Should You Use GPS Tracking in Pyongyang Marathon?
While the Pyongyang Marathon has long welcomed foreign runners, Strava’s bans are not related to the event itself but rather to U.S. sanctions on North Korea.
Given the conflicting experiences of different users, the choice is yours.
Runners should consider the risks and decide whether to track their race or not.
Want to Run the Pyongyang Marathon?
Koryo Tours is officially taking applications for upcoming Pyongyang Marathon tours. If you’re an amateur runner looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, check out Koryo Tours Pyongyang Marathon packages.
Just don’t forget - Strava might not approve!
Koryo Tours
Experts
in North Korea Travel
Since 1993
Share
