Pyongyang, February 14 (KCNA) -- Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Andrei Karlov gave a reception at the embassy Monday evening on the occasion of the birthday of leader Kim Jong Il. Present on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People"s Assembly of the DPRK, Ro Tu Chol, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Pak Kyong Son, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers" Party of Korea, Kim Jong Gak, vice-minister of the People"s Armed Forces, Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and other officials concerned. On hand were staff members of the Russian embassy.
The ambassador in a speech said that Kim Jong Il is well known to the Russian people as the leader of the Korean party, army and people who has distinguished political ability and a close friend of the Russian people.
He noted that Kim Jong Il has paid great attention to boosting the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The bilateral relations are good neighborly and friendly relations, he said, stating that the Russia-DPRK Joint Declaration and the Moscow Declaration adopted at meetings of the top leaders of the two countries and the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation between Russia and the DPRK have laid solid foundations for the success of inter-state cooperation.
He wished the Korean army and people greater success in their struggle to increase the defence capability of the country and build a great prosperous powerful nation under the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, this year.
He wholeheartedly wished Kim Jong Il good health and happiness on his birthday. Yang Hyong Sop in a speech said that the officers and men of the Korean People"s Army and the Korean people greeting the auspicious holiday of February are extending the most wholehearted and warmest congratulations and best wishes to Kim Jong Il and are replete with firm determination to staunchly advance along the road of the Songun revolution led by him.
Today the DPRK-Russia friendly relations are favorably developing under the particular concern of the top leaders of the two countries, he said, noting that the DPRK will make every possible effort to further expand and develop the DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations with a long historical root in various fields. He wished the Russian people great success in their work to increase the defence capability of the country, achieve social stability and economic progress and build a powerful Russia under the leadership of President Putin.