Present there on invitation were Valery Sukhinin, Russian ambassador, and staff members of his embassy.

Pak Ui Chun, minister of Foreign Affairs, in his speech at the reception referred to the fact that last year high-level delegations and famous art troupes of Russia visited the DPRK, adding that General Secretary Kim Jong Il, though busy with his Songun revolutionary leadership, watched together with the staff members of the Russian embassy performances given by Russian art troupes.

Recalling that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of the DPRK-Russia joint declaration, the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the treaty of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation between the two countries and the 65th anniversary of Korea's liberation, he expressed hope that there would be fruits in the work to boost the DPRK-Russia relations in the new year, too, as required by the spirit of the joint documents.

Valery Sukhinin in his speech referred to the fact that the Korean people achieved great successes in the socio-economic fields last year.

Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, has paid deep attention to the development of the relations between the two countries, he noted.

Saying that this year marks the significant anniversaries, he stressed that he and his staff would join Korean comrades in making positive efforts for the development of the bilateral friendly relations.