Present there were Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and vice-chairman of the WPK Central Committee, Premier Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and vice-chairman of the SAC, and other party and government officials, the chairman of a friendly party, officials of armed forces organs, ministries and national institutions, merited persons, members of overseas compatriots' congratulatory groups and delegations including the group of Koreans in Japan for celebrating the Day of the Sun, and the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front.

Foreign diplomatic envoys, representatives of international bodies and military attaches and their spouses and other foreign guests here were invited to the reception.

Choe Ryong Hae in his speech said President Kim Il Sung remains the eternal benefactor of the nation, the father of socialist Korea and a great sage of the revolution as he illuminated the road ahead of the country, the revolution and mankind with bright rays of the Juche idea and performed undying exploits for carving out of the destiny of the Korean people and global independence.

The speaker extended high respects and glory to the President in reflection of the feelings of all service personnel and people of the DPRK and the world progressive people.

He called for holding in high esteem President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il for all ages, dynamically advancing toward the victory of socialism under the guidance of the respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and thus realizing the patriotic desire of the great leaders for building a powerful country.