Pyongyang, October 12 (KCNA) -- Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Valery E. Sukhinin gave a reception on Wednesday at his embassy on the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and the Russian Federation.

Present there on invitation were Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade O Ryong Chol, Vice-Chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries So Ho Won who doubles as chairman of the DPRK-Russia Friendship Association and officials concerned.

Staff members of the Russian embassy attended.

Valery E. Sukhinin said in a speech at the reception that Russia remains unchanged in its principled stand to develop friendly relations with the DPRK.

The meeting between the top leaders of the two countries in August showed that the Russian leadership has firmly maintained its policy of deepening the Russia-DPRK good-neighborly relations, he noted, adding:

We are sincerely grateful for deep attention paid by general secretary Kim Jong Il to the development of cooperation with Russia.

Pak Ui Chun said for over six decades the two countries have steadily developed cooperation and exchange in various fields as friendly neighbors.

Leader Kim Jong Il's historic visit to Russia served as an important milestone in further developing the DPRK-Russia friendly relations in line with the desire and wishes of the peoples of the two countries and turning Northeast Asia into the region of peace and cooperation, he noted.

He will make efforts to boost the DPRK-Russian friendly and cooperative relations in the spirit agreed upon at the meeting and talks by the top leaders of the two countries.