PYONGYANG (Reuters) - North Korea's Pyongyang Taedonggang Beer Festival opened on Friday (Aug 12).

At the opening ceremony, rice beer, dark beer and several other kinds of beer brewed at the Taedonggang Beer Factory were presented, the North's official news agency KCNA said.

Video filmed by KCNA, which could not be independently verified by Reuters, showed officials, beer fans and foreign guests drinking beers at the restaurant boat Taedonggang and wharf, venues of the beer festival with a show stage and large electronic display.

An art group of the boat restaurant gave a performance and there was also a beer sampling competition, KCNA said.