The contest, divided into such occupational categories as welder, pipe-maker, caster and plasterer, will be participated in by more than 650 skilled workers selected in the earlier contests of skilled workers sponsored by ministries, national institutions and provincial people's committees.

Its opening ceremony took place at the Central Hall of Workers on Thursday.

Present there were O Su Yong, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Vice-Premier Ro Tu Chol, chairman of the State Planning Commission, officials of ministries and national institutions, organs and enterprises in Pyongyang, labor innovators and participants of the contest.

Ro Tu Chol made an opening address.