Attending it were Kim Yong Nam, Choe Yong Rim, Ri Yong Ho and other senior party, state and army officials, officials of party, armed forces and power bodies, working people's organizations, ministries and national institutions, men and officers of the Korean People's Army and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, officials in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health and media, persons of merit, overseas compatriot delegations and individuals and the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front.

Diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations here, members of the military attaches corps and other foreign guests were present on invitation.

Kim Ki Nam, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., WPK, made a speech at the banquet.

Born as the son of the guerillas in Mt. Paektu, Kim Jong Il's revolutionary career was the most brilliant one of an unequaled legendary hero, great revolutionary and peerless patriot, the speaker said, adding:

He had long led to victory the Juche revolution, the Songun revolution, thus performing great exploits to be recorded as immortal in the history of humankind.

Thanks to his distinguished idea and leadership the DPRK worked world-startling miracles and drastic changes in all domains of the revolution and construction and ushered in the new era of building a prosperous and powerful country, a new era of prosperity unprecedented in the 5 000-year-long history of the Korean nation.

The speaker said that all the Korean people would hold Kim Jong Il in high esteem for all ages with noble moral obligation and unshakable faith that he is always with them and go along the road of independence, Songun and socialism to the last.

They should hold the dear respected Kim Jong Un, who is identical to Kim Jong Il in every aspect, in high esteem as the center of unity and leadership and devotedly safeguard him and establish the steadfast monolithic system of his leadership and the revolutionary trait of devotedly implementing his orders, he stressed.