The second seed came into the gold medal contest as the underdog and looked as though she would storm to victory when she raced into a three-game lead.

Ri, however, found her rhythm as she hit back, sending the contest into a decider by securing the next three games.

Despite dropping her level and allowing her team-mate back into the match, Kim recovered to seal a hard-fought 11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 4-11, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9 win to claim gold.

The victory cemented Kim’s status as the most successful female player from North Korea.

The host nation also prevailed in the men’s singles competition as Wi Hun Kang overcame China’s Xu Yingbin in what proved to be another marathon contest.

The pair exchanged the opening four games as Wi was unable to pull clear of his Chinese opponent before he took the last two on his way to a 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 win.

Kim and Ri had earlier put their singles rivalry aside to successfully defend their women’s doubles title with victory over team-mates Kim Hye Song and Ri Mi Gyong.

The 2015 winners had beaten their counterparts during last year’s final and proved too strong once again as they emerged with a comfortable 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 triumph.

The result handed the North Korean duo their third ITTF World Tour crown.

The men’s doubles title was sealed by Chinese pair Cao Wei and Ji Jiale, who went out of the 2015 Pyongyang Open at the quarter-final stage, as they beat compatriots Yang Shuo and Zhao Zhaoyan.

In what was a first ITTF World Tour final appearance for all four competitors, Cao and Ji were able to handle the pressure as they needed five games to get past Yang and Zhao 14-12, 11-3, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6.