Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education, Kim Pyong Phal, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, Ri Yong Chol, vice-department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Mun Jae Chol, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and others.

Staff members of the Palestinian embassy were on hand.

The Palestinian ambassador addressing the reception said that the friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries provided by President Yasser Arafat and President Kim Il Sung have grown stronger under the deep care of Mahmoud Abbas and General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

The Palestinian people always stand by the friendly Korean people in their struggle to get the U.S. troops withdrawn from south Korea and reunify the country and support all proposals of the DPRK, he said, hoping that the Korean people would weather difficulties and emerge victorious in their efforts to achieve progress and prosperity and bring about bright future under the wise guidance of
Kim Jong Il.

Yang Hyong Sop in his speech said that Kim Il Sung is the eternal father of the Korean nation and the sun of all people as he dedicated his whole life to the prosperity of the country, happiness of the people and the human cause of independence.

He recalled that the revolutionary cause of Juche pioneered by the President has been successfully carried forward by Kim Jong Il.

He declared that the Korean people would invariably support the Palestinian people in their just cause to retake lands occupied by Israel, restore their legitimate national rights and found an independent and sovereign state with Kuds as its capital.