Present at the festival were officials of Korean organizations in Uzbekistan and members of 17 Koreans' art troupes.

Present there on invitation were the DPRK charge d'affaires ad interim to Uzbekistan and staff members of the DPRK embassy in Tashkent.

Ju Yong Il, chairman of the "Old Men" Association for Korean Cultural Tradition in Uzbekistan, said in his opening ceremony that it was a tradition for Koreans in Uzbekistan to hold the art festival every year on the occasion of the Day of the Sun.

He went on:

Kim Il Sung is deeply revered by the world progressives for the immortal exploits he performed for the liberation of Korea, building of socialism and the cause of national reunification and global independence, and for his noble popular traits.

The art festival is more significant as it is taking place at a time when Marshal Kim Jong Un was reelected as first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK.

Witnessing the reality of the DPRK in which it is taking on the looks of a highly civilized socialist nation as the days go by under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Un, who is identical to Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il, we foresee the morrow of the country and a bright day when the country will be reunified.

We Koreans in Uzbekistan will intensify the patriotic work for national reunification, keeping pace with the people in the motherland, though we are far away from it.

Put on the stage of the festival were choruses of the immortal revolutionary hymns "Song of General Kim Il Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong Il", "Korea Does What It Is Determined to Do" and "We Are One", dances "Dance with Fans" and "Dance with Janggu" and other colorful numbers.