Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Ri Yong Chol, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned.

Staff members of the Russian embassy were on hand.

Alexander Matsegora said at the reception that the Korean people are working hard to greet the 65th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers' Party of Korea with high political zeal and brilliant labor achievements and fling open the gate to a thriving nation in 2012 under the leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

He sincerely wished the Korean people greater success in all their work and expressed the belief that they would attain their goals without fail.

Yang Hyong Sop said in his speech that the publication of the DPRK-Russia Joint Declaration at the historic meeting between Kim Jong Il and President Putin in Pyongyang was a momentous event which provided fresh foundation in boosting the traditional relations between the two countries.

Noting that visits, contacts and exchange between the two countries have been activated in various fields and progress made in the work for vitalizing the bilateral cooperation after the publication of the joint declaration, he expressed the hope that exchange and cooperation between the two countries would further develop in the future, too.

Earlier to the reception, a friendly gathering took place at the Russian embassy on the same occasion.