Pyongyang, September 9 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, received a message of greeting from Raul Castro Ruz, president of the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, on Friday, the 63rd anniversary of the DPRK.

The message said:

Dear comrades,

I extend warm congratulations to you, the Workers' Party of Korea and the government and people of the DPRK on behalf of the Cuban party, government and people on the 63rd anniversary of the DPRK.

Availing myself of this opportunity, I reaffirm the will to continue strengthening the fraternal ties between our two countries.

I extend our greeting of solidarity, sincerely wishing the fraternal Korean people peace and prosperity.