Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Il, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Jin, chairman of the Education Commission, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade, Kim Jong Suk, chairwoman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Pak Jae Gyong, vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces, and Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

Staff members of the embassy were present there.

The ambassador said in his speech that Kim Il Sung dedicated himself to the struggle for turning the DPRK into an independent and developed socialist country.

The achievements made by the Korean people under the leadership of Kim Jong Il greatly please the Cuban people, he added.

Expressing hope that the fraternal relations between Cuba and the DPRK provided under the special care of the top leaders of the two countries would grow stronger, he expressed belief that the Korean people would emerge victorious in socialist construction and the struggle for the country's reunification.

Yang said that the Cuban people's commemoration of the Day of the Sun every year is a manifestation of the Cuban party, government and people's boundless reverence for Kim Il Sung.

He referred to the fact that Kim Jong Il is paying deep attention to the development of the friendly and cooperative relations with Cuba.

He hoped that the government and people of Cuba would make successes in defending socialism and the gains of revolution under the leadership of Fidel Castro Ruz and Raul Castro Ruz.