Pyongyang, April 11 (KCNA) -- The 9th April Spring People's Art Festival opened with splendor in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, on the occasion of the 113th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.

The festival, which brought together art group members of institutions, industrial establishments, farms, etc., will be held, divided into city and county (complex) art groups, art groups of institutions, art groups of industrial establishments and art groups of farms.

An opening ceremony took place at the Pyongyang Circus Theatre on April 10.

Artistes of national-level art troupes, members of the women's union and school youth and children in the city greeted the participants in the festival with splendid dancing.

The participants were full of passion to add to the festive atmosphere of the significant Day of the Sun celebration and fully demonstrate the ever-developing mass culture and art by singing aloud the songs praising their great leaders.

Present at the opening ceremony were Ju Chang Il, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, officials concerned, participants in the festival and Pyongyang citizens.

Minister of Culture Sung Jong Gyu, chairman of the festival organizing committee, made an opening address.

He said that the 9th April Spring People's Art Festival, which is to be held with splendor on the occasion of the 113th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung, is a grand political art festival peculiar to Juche Korea, which will represent with beautiful melodies and cheerful dances the unshakable faith and will of all the people to hold the President in high esteem forever and add glory to the new era of national prosperity under the leadership of the great WPK.

He declared the start of the festival, expressing belief that the festival would fully show the ideological and moral traits of the Korean people to faithfully uphold the ideas and leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and add vigor to their general advance for accelerating the overall development of Korean-style socialism.

The festival flag was hoisted amid the playing of the song "The Glorious Country".

Then a curtain raiser was given by artistes of the Phibada Opera Troupe, the National Folk Art Troupe and the National Acrobatic Troupe. -0-