Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Jin, chairman of the Education Commission, Hyon Sang Ju, chairman of the C.C., General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and officials concerned.

Staff members of the Palestinian embassy were on hand.

The ambassador noted at the reception that Kim Jong Il is leading the general advance for opening the gate to a thriving socialist nation.

The friendly relations between the two countries, provided by President Yasser Arafat and eternal President Kim Il Sung, are growing stronger day by day under the guidance of Chief of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas and leader Kim Jong Il, he said

Yang Hyong Sop said that the Palestinian friends join the Korean people in significantly celebrating Kim Jong Il's birthday every year. This is an expression of their deep respect and reverence for the leader, he added.

He declared that the Korean people would invariably support the Palestinian people's just cause of retaking their national rights and founding an independent and sovereign state with Kuds as its capital.