Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education who is chairman of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with Cuba, Ro Song Sil, chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Democratic Women's Union, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned.

The ambassador noted in his speech that the Korean people have achieved signal successes in their 150-day campaign under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il, expressing hope that they would make great progress in socialist construction in the future, too.

The Cuban people will further boost the friendly relations with the Korean people in their struggle to foil the moves of the imperialists for aggression and blockade and defend the sovereignty of the country and socialism, he added.

He declared the Cuban people would always stand by the Korean people in the struggle for achieving the common purposes.

Yang Hyong Sop said in his speech that President Kim Il Sung founded the DPRK, bringing about a radical turn in carving out the destiny of the country and its people and in carrying out the revolutionary cause of Juche.

Kim Il Sung's immortal idea of the nation-building and his feats performed in it remain shining thanks to Kim Jong Il and the DPRK has entered a new higher stage in its development, he stressed.

He referred to the fact that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have grown stronger on the invariable principle and sense of obligation under the deep care of the top leaders of the two countries.