Annual events marking General Secretary Kim Jong Il's birthday, February 16, includes a synchronized swimming demonstration.

Synchronized swimming, started in the country in the latter half of the 1980s, has made a rapid progress, scoring good results at international tournaments.

DPRK girls won silver medals at the team, single and pair events of an international synchronized swimming tournament held in Russia in Juche 86 (1997).

They also proved successful at Asian tournaments including the 7th Asian Swimming Championship, and the 15th and 16th Asian Games.