Seen on the front wall of its venue were portraits of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

On display in its venue were works of the peerlessly great men and photos of Kim Jong Il on historic visits to Russia and his Songun revolutionary leadership feats.

Attending the meeting were personages of the Russian preparatory committee for commemorating the 70th birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK and media persons and masses.

The ambassador and staff members of the DPRK embassy in Moscow were present on invitation.

The participants in the meeting observed a moment's silence in memory of Kim Jong Il.

Mozgovoi, first secretary of the C.C., Communist Party of the Soviet Union, said:

Kim Jong Il was the great sun of the world socialist movement.

He developed and enriched the Juche idea, the Songun idea and led socialism in the DPRK to victory by carrying forward the cause of President Kim Il Sung.

Today organizations for the study of the Juche idea, the Songun idea are active in different parts of Russia.

The revolutionary feats of Kim Jong Il will last forever.

Chairman Petrov of the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK said:

I never imagined we would greet the 70th birthday of Kim Jong Il without him.

He dedicated his revolutionary life to justice and people's happiness by carrying forward Kim Il Sung's cause.

Now his cause is being carried forward by the dear respected Kim Jong Un.

The Korean people's true and friendly friends in Russia will always remember Kim Jong Il's feats.

Vorontsov, first vice-chairman of the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK, said:

Kim Jong Il was a great man who rendered great services for the socialist cause and the history of world politics.

He authored "Socialism Is a Science" at the end of the last century and other famous works and led the Korean people to victory with his optimism and staunch spirit "Let's advance merrily, though our way is rugged " during the Arduous March.

When the world imperialists worked hard to stifle the DPRK by force of arms, he pursued Songun politics, turning it into a nuclear weapons state.

The DPRK overpowered foreign forces with its nuclear deterrent and a high level of diplomatic skill.

This was the result of Kim Jong Il's wise leadership.

It is also thanks to his historic services that the Russia-DPRK relations have reached such new high stage of development as we see today.

It is my belief that the Korean people would achieve shining successes in the building of a thriving nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, true to the behests of Kim Jong Il.