The DPRK government established the Korea Art Performance Association in August 30, Juche 69 (1980), which was reorganized as AEAK in July 1986.

Its mission is to, through art exchange at home and abroad, contribute to promoting mass cultural and art activities, making cultural and emotional life prevail throughout the society, demonstrating ever-developing Korean arts to the world and intensifying solidarity with other countries.

Over the last three decades, it has successfully sponsored the April Spring Friendship Art Festival, an international festival, on 26 occasions and the April Spring People's Art Festival, a domestic one, twice to celebrate the birthday of President Kim Il Sung as the greatest holiday of the nation and a significant day of the world.

Since the international festival started in 1982 to celebrate the 70th birthday of the President, it has been participated in by more than 15,800 foreigners and overseas Koreans from different parts of the world.

AEAK has helped art troupes of the country give performances in many countries, introducing the Juche-oriented arts, and hosted different art events in Korea for foreign guests.

It has also organized art training courses for overseas Koreans to teach them the excellent arts of the nation.

It, situated in Central District, Pyongyang, was awarded with the Order of National Flag 1st Class.