Present there on invitation were Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of External Economic Relations who doubles as chairman of the DPRK-Syria Friendship Association, and officials concerned.

The ambassador said that Kim Jong Il, who successfully carried forward the intention of President Kim Il Sung, turned the DPRK into an impregnable fortress that no enemy dare encroach upon and defended the people's happiness with his outstanding Songun politics.

The Korean people have firmly defended the dignity and the sovereignty of the country despite the U.S. and its followers' moves to isolate and stifle the country thanks to the wise leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Un, he noted.

He hoped that the friendly relations between the two countries would grow stronger this year, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and the DPRK.

Kim Ki Nam said that Kim Jong Il performed in smashing the hostile forces' moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK, firmly defended socialism and made immortal contribution to preserving peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the world by pursuing the original Songun politics.

He noted that the friendly and cooperative relations provided by the preceding leaders of the two countries are growing stronger under the deep concern of Marshal Kim Jong Un and President Bashar Al-Assad.

He noted that the Korean people will extend invariable support and solidarity to the Syrian government and people in their just struggle to defend the country's sovereignty and territory integrity in the future, too.