Present there on invitation were Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, Jong Yong Su, minister of Labour, Kim Thae Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Jon Yong Jin, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and officials concerned.

The Iranian ambassador in his speech said the auspicious February holiday is a very meaningful holiday, adding that the Korean people are making vigorous endeavors to open the gate to a great, prosperous and powerful nation in 2012, the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung, under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.

He hoped that the Korean people closely rallied around Kim Jong Il would make greater success in their struggle for carrying out the last instructions of Kim Il Sung.

Noting that the friendly relations between Iran and the DPRK have deepened under the care of the leaders of the two countries, he expressed the belief that these ties would grow stronger in the future, too.

Choe Thae Bok in his speech said that the birth of Kim Jong Il as a bright star of Mt. Paektu was an event of national historic significance as it promised the accomplishment of the revolutionary cause of Juche started by Kim Il Sung and a bright future of the country.

He said that the friendly relations between the two countries were forged through the common struggle for independence against imperialism, adding the DPRK government would make positive efforts to boost these relations in the days ahead.

He wished the Iranian government and people greater successes in their struggle for the independent development and prosperity of the country.