Present there on invitation were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Borodavkin, the first vice-chairman of the Committee for Northern and Far Eastern Issues of the State Duma of Russia and deputies to the State Duma and the Federation Council of Russia and personages of political parties and government ministries, organizations and institutions.

Kim Yong Jae, DPRK ambassador to Russia, and staff members of his embassy were on hand.

The participants laid floral baskets and bouquets before the full-length portrait of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and made bows.

They looked round photos on display on the subject of "Day of the Sun of Korea."

Kim Yong Jae said in the speech at the reception that Kim Il Sung was the peerless patriot and legendary great man who performed undying exploits before the times, the revolution, the country and the people with his outstanding ideological and theoretical activities and great revolutionary practices, regarding it as his maxim to believe in the people as in Heaven all his life.

The friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Russia with a long history and tradition are now developing on good terms under the care of the top leaders of the two countries, he said, hoping that the Russian people would achieve greater successes in their efforts to build powerful Russia.

Borodavkin said that the friendly and cooperative relations between Russia and the DPRK the foundation of which was provided by Kim Il Sung are now successfully developing in the interests of the peoples of the two countries.

Noting that Russia is making sustained efforts to push ahead with multisided programs between the two countries and enrich them with new contents to meet the requirements of the times, he wished the DPRK success in the socio-economic development and its people prosperity and welfare.