Six DPRK athletes to run Beijing Olympic marathon

PYONGYANG, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Another DPRK marathoner won the qualification for the Beijing Olympic Games, to increase the DPRK marathon qualifiers to six.

Kim Il Nam, a man marathoner from the DPRK army, automatically qualified for the Beijing Olympics, as he ran inside the qualification of two hours 15 minutes at the just concluded 21st "Mangyongdae Prize" Marathon on April 6 in Pyongyang.

The annually-held "Mangyongdae Prize" Marathon had been registered at the International Association of Athletic Federations from this year, which means the results of the athletes will be internationally accepted.

Every country or region could send no more than three men and three women athletes to take part in the Olympic marathon. The DPRK had won three men and three women qualifications after Kim qualified.