Present there on invitation were Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the C.C., Workers' Party of Korea, Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade, Kim Jong Suk, chairwoman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and others.

The ambassador said at the reception that the pains taken by Kim Jong Il for the socialist cause would be always kept in the hearts of the world revolutionaries.

The wise leadership of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un serves as the source of all victories to the DPRK, he stressed.

We heartily hope that the Korean people would open the gate to a thriving nation this year marking the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung and reliably defend their country and socialism, the ambassador said.

Kim Ki Nam in his speech said that the revolutionary life of Kim Jong Il was the brilliant one of a great man who adorned the protracted course of the Juche revolution, the Songun revolution with victory and glory with his unbounded loyalty to the idea and the cause of the President.

He noted that Kim Jong Un is showing deep care for the development of the friendly and cooperative relations with Cuba, true to the noble intention of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

The Korean people will steadily consolidate the bonds of militant friendship and cooperation based on the revolutionary principle and comradely obligation in the future, too, he said.