The festival is drawing attention at home and abroad as it takes place at a historic time when all service personnel and people are ushering in a fresh era of the Juche revolution, closely united around supreme leader Kim Jong Un.

An opening ceremony was held at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre on Friday.

When the participants of the festival arrived at its venue, artistes performed fan dance, janggu dance and acrobatics to the cheerful music presented by the female brass band.

Art organizations participating in the festival were introduced while Korean children presented flowers to the participants.

Present at the ceremony were Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, officials concerned, working people in Pyongyang, foreign artistes, overseas Korean artistes, delegations of various countries, diplomatic envoys and representatives of international bodies here, the military attaches corps here, staff members of foreign embassies, and overseas compatriots.

Korean artistes put on the stage a beautiful dance with boundless reverence for President Kim Il Sung to the tune of song "Our Leader".

Han Chol, vice-minister of Culture who doubles as vice-chairman of the festival organizing committee, in his opening address said that through their colorful performing activities the participants in the festival would present the good cultural tradition and the development of arts of their countries and nations and further deepen the friendship.

During the festival its participants will witness the happy life of the Korean people who translate into reality their dream and ideal to live in luxury and comfort under socialism under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, true to the desire of Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, he noted.

He declared the festival open, expressing belief that the festival would prove successful as desired and expected by the Korean people, all participants and the world progressives.

Korean and foreign artistes hoisted the flag of the festival to the solemn tune of "Ode to the Motherland".

Viktor Yeliseev, chief of the Academy Ensemble of the Interior Unit of the Russian Ministry of Interior who had the honor of being the first conductor of the opening performance, made a speech.

He said that he deems it a great honor to conduct the "Song of General Kim Il Sung," an immortal revolutionary hymn, in the festival.

He extended the heartfelt congratulations to Kim Jong Un upon his reelection as first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK at the First Session of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.

A performance was given by Korean artistes at the opening ceremony.