The closing ceremony of the 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival was held in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, April 17, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

The closing ceremony of the 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival was held Tuesday in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Chinese art troupe, led by Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, won many important awards. The National Ballet of China won "Special Award for the Group".

Kim Jong-un, top leader of the DPRK,, and his wife Ri Sol-ju watched the ballet The Red Detachment of Women performed by the National Ballet of China.

Kim went to the stage after the performance, gave congratulations on its success and took a photo with the actors. After watching another ballet, Giselle, Ri Sol-ju praised the performance by the Chinese artists, and the Korean audience also responded with thunderous applause. The two ballet performances won gold prizes at the festival.

Feng Ying, president and art director of the National Ballet of China, paid her first visit to the DPRK for the performance, but she know a lot about Korean culture and art — especially Korean dances, operas and films — because she was born in Jilin province, close to the country.