North Korea intensifying preparations for art festival commemorating late founder's birth

A propaganda image published over the 33rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival that will be held in April on the occasion of the 112th birthday of late founder Kim Il-sung is seen in this file photo carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, April 2. Yonhap

North Korea has been ramping up preparations for an art festival celebrating the 112th birthday of late founder Kim Il-sung this month, with art troupes from Russia, China and Mongolia expected to participate in the event, state media reported Friday.

North Korea is preparing to hold the 33rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival between April 11 and 25 on the occasion of the birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong-un's grandfather, according to the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper.

The North celebrates Kim's birthday on April 15 as a national holiday, also called the Day of the Sun.

Around 20 art teams from Russia as well as art troupes from China and Mongolia, including the China National Symphony Orchestra, will take part in the upcoming art festival, the newspaper said.

Foreign artists will attend the festival by sending recorded footage of their performances to North Korea and the North will air an edited version via its state-run Korean Central Television.

The spring art festival has been held in April in even-numbered years. In 2020, North Korea canceled the event due to its COVID-19 border shutdown, and the country broadcast recorded footage of art performances in 2022. (Yonhap)