Present there on invitation were the art troupe headed by Yun Thae Gil, deputy principal of Korean Middle and High School in Tokyo, and compatriots in Japan.

Choe Ryong Hae, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, spoke at the reception.

He recalled that Kim Jong Un made sure that the Korean schoolchildren's art troupe in Japan took part in the New Year Day's performance and showed great loving care for it just as leader Kim Jong Il did.

He expressed belief that the Korean schoolchildren in Japan would firmly prepare as reliable successors to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) by keeping pace with Kim Jong Un.

Song Kun Hak, vice department director of the Central Standing Committee of Chongryon, spoke next.

He extended deepest thanks to Kim Jong Un for inviting them to take part in the performance and showing warm love for them.

While staying in the homeland, they realized the personality of Kim Jong Un as a great man born of Heaven and witnessed its stirring reality, he noted.

He stressed all this helped deepen their faith that the revolutionary cause of Juche and patriotic cause of Chongryon are sure to win.

A joint performance was given by schoolchildren in Pyongyang and members of the art troupe from Japan.