The contest, opened on the occasion of Harvest Moon Day (15th day of the eighth lunar month), a folk holiday, has drawn some 130 players selected from Pyongyang and provinces.

The contest will be held in league matches and tournament, divided into body-weight (individual and group events) and catch-weight category events.

In body-weight category events five players from each team will compete in a tournament. In the group events two from youth level and three from adult level will compete in league matches, divided into two groups. Those which placed first and second in each team will advance into semi-finals and finals.

In the catch-weight category events, one player will be selected from each team and they will be divided into two groups. Eight players who take the first to fourth places in the league matches will play a tournament until the final winner is confirmed.

Prior to the start of the contest, Vice-Premier and concurrently Minister of Agriculture Ri Chol Man, who is also chairman of the Ssirum Association of the DPRK, made a speech.

This was followed by a contest of body-weight category event (individual).

The contest will last till September 6.