Present there on invitation were Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister, Ri Yong Chol, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials concerned.

Staff members of the Russian embassy attended.

Alexandr Timonin said in his speech at the reception that the friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Russia have deep historical roots.

He went on:

The leaders of the two countries pay deep attention to the development of the friendly relations.

Today Russia and the DPRK should develop the good tradition which was provided in the course of developing the friendly relations.

The Russia-DPRK cooperation should be developed on the principle of good neighborliness, equality and mutual benefits for the well-being of the people in the future, too.

Pak Ui Chun said in his speech that he was pleased over the fact that the government and people of Russia have achieved great successes in their work for developing the economy of the country and achieving the socio-political stability.

He wished the friendly Russian people greater success in their work for building powerful Russia under the leadership of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

He reaffirmed that the DPRK would further expand and develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation in the future, too.