Present there were Chief Vice-Chairman of the Chongryon Central Standing Committee Ho Jong Man and other officials of Chongryon and Korean men of commerce and industry.

Japanese figures from different strata, ambassadors of various countries and staff members of their embassies, representatives of international organizations and foreign correspondents in Japan were present there on invitation.

Ho Jong Man, addressing the banquet, said that Kim Jong Il has wisely led the general advance for effecting a decisive turn in improving the people's standard of living this year marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.

If the south Korean authorities sincerely opt for national reconciliation and unity in the spirit of "By our nation itself", the basic idea of the June 15 joint declaration, the north-south relations would rapidly improve, he said, adding:

The Japanese authorities should opt for redressing Japan's past crimes and normalizing the relations with the DPRK in the basic spirit of the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration.