Present there were senior party, state and army officials, the chairperson of a friendly party, officials of the armed forces and power bodies, the Cabinet, working people's organizations, ministries and national institutions and those of city-level institutions, persons of merit, a congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan and other overseas compatriots' congratulatory group and delegations and the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front.

Present there on invitation were foreign diplomatic envoys, representatives of international organizations and military attaches of foreign embassies here and their spouses and foreign guests.

Kim Ki Nam, member of the Political Bureau and vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, said in his speech that the revolutionary career of Kim Jong Il was the life characterized by his love for the country and its people as he devoted his all to the prosperity of the country and happiness of its people, exploring the untrodden path for several decades.

He paid the highest tribute and offered the greatest glory to Kim Jong Il, legendary great man and image of the great Paektusan nation, representing the reverence of the whole army and all the people.

He noted that the service personnel and people of the DPRK would advance straightly along the immutable orbit of independence, Songun and socialism which Kim Jong Il covered all his life and build a socialist power of Juche on this land so as to remain true to his behests.

He stressed that the DPRK would surely usher in a great avenue of independent reunification with the concerted efforts of all Koreans, true to the noble intention of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il for loving the country, nation and people, and make all sincere efforts to be faithful to the foreign policy idea of independence, peace and friendship and realize genuine international justice.