An opening ceremony of the festival took place at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre on Wednesday.

The outside of the venue on the picturesque bank of the River Taedong was festively decorated.

As the participants of the festival arrived at the venue, senior officials of the party and state congratulated them outside.

Peasant dances, fan dance, acrobatic pieces and children's peculiar skills presented outside the venue added to the festive atmosphere before the opening of the festival.

Present at the opening ceremony were Choe Yong Rim, premier of the Cabinet, 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, officials concerned, Pyongyang citizens, foreign artistes, overseas Korean artistes, delegations of various countries, diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations here, staff members of foreign embassies, foreign guests, overseas Koreans and reporters of various countries.

DPRK and foreign artistes presented graceful dances.

Projected on the screen were scenes showing President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il watching performances given by artistes of various countries of the world and receiving them.

The participants broke into applause when a portrait of the dear respected Kim Jong Un appeared on the screen.

Congratulatory speeches were made by the Cuban vice-minister of Culture, Sun Xiaohong, head of the Chinese Art Troupe, Chong Ah Kow, head of the Ensemble My Harmonica World of Malaysia, and Leonid Milivanov, head of the Cossack Dance Troupe of Russia.

They said they were pleased to significantly celebrate the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung together with the Korean people, expressing belief that the festival would be splendidly held in line with its idea.

Read out at the ceremony were congratulatory messages and letters sent to the festival by governments and prestigious art troupes and famous personages and artistes of various countries.

Minister of Culture An Tong Chun, chairman of the festival organizing committee, in his opening address said the participants would decorate the stages with graceful songs and dances and swap successes and experience gained in the development of culture and art, deepening friendship.

The flag of the festival was hoisted by DPRK and foreign artistes.

There was a performance given by DPRK artistes at the ceremony.