Present there on invitation were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Aleksei Borodavkin, deputies to the State Duma, members of the Federation Council and officials of ministries of the government, political parties, organizations and organs of Russia.

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

The participants laid a floral basket and bunches of flowers before a full-length picture of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il standing together and paid tribute to them.

They went round photos displayed on the themes of "Whole Life Dedicated to the People" and "DPRK's Arts".

Speeches were made at the reception.

Kim Yong Jae referred to the undying feats of Kim Jong Il, noting that his birth marked a historic event as it promised a rosy future for hewing out the destiny of the Korean people and accomplishing the revolutionary cause of Juche.

The DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations are now favorably developing in various fields under the care of the top leaders of the two countries, he said, adding that he would make every possible effort to put the bilateral relations on a higher stage this year.

Aleksei Borodavkin expressed his will to make positive efforts to ensure that the year 2010 that marks the 65th anniversary of Korea's liberation and the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between Russia and the DPRK will be recorded as a year of the development of cooperation and exchange between the two countries.

He wished the DPRK achievements in all fields of socio-economic development under the leadership of Kim Jong Il and the Korean people prosperity and wellbeing.

A performance was given by the Academy Ensemble of the Interior Unit of the Russian Ministry of Interior at the reception.