The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the embassy of the Russian Federation in Pyongyang jointly hosted a reception on June 19 on the occasion of the historic DPRK-Russia Pyongyang summit and the first anniversary of the conclusion of the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between the DPRK and Russia.

Present there were Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the DPRK, Jo Yong Won and Ri Hi Yong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, and other leading officials of the Party, government and the military, and officials of the Party Central Committee, ministries and armed forces organs.

Aleksandr Matsegora, Russian ambassador to the DPRK, and his embassy members were on hand.

Choe Son Hui made a speech at the reception.

She said that the birth of the new inter-state treaty which confirms the new strategic path of the relations between the two countries and assures its victory at a crucial time when the whole world is experiencing unprecedented changes is a brilliant fruition of the outstanding foresight, bold decision and experienced leadership of the heads of state of the DPRK and Russia.

She said that the conclusion of the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries put the traditional friendship between the two countries definitely on the orbit of the most solid and invincible alliance and relations of comrades-in-arms and provided a strong legal framework for firmly guaranteeing the bilateral relations in the face of any challenge and difficulty.

Invariable is the stand of the DPRK government to closely cooperate with the Russian Federation in all fields and to steadily promote the development of the DPRK-Russia relations for the everlasting wellbeing and beautiful future of the peoples of the two countries in accordance with the spirit of the new inter-state treaty, she noted.

She expressed belief that the alliance between the DPRK and Russia, which greeted a heyday, will continuously and invariably be carried forward in the future, too, and the militant friendship forged between the two countries in the grandiose journey for opening up a new chapter of friendship will promise a brighter future of the peoples and posterity of the two countries.

Next, Aleksandr Matsegora made a speech.

He said that a treaty which put the relations between the Russian Federation and the DPRK on a high stage and gave them a completely new character was concluded in Pyongyang a year ago, adding that in the recent decades the two countries had never been closer to each other nor had deeper mutual undertanding and trust than now.

The firmness of the relations between Russia and the DPRK was verified and strengthened in the flames of the bloody war in which the excellent sons of the peoples of the two countries fought fierce battles shoulder to shoulder against the common enemy and won victory, he said, adding that Russia would never forget the feats of the soldiers of the Korean People's Army who displayed miraculous heroism in the battlefields of Kursk Region and glorified their colours with immortal honour as they would defend their own country.

He said that no one doubts that the two countries are the closest states and that their alliance conforms to the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries, aspires to the future and aims at building a new and just world order based on equality and respect for sovereignty.

He expressed belief that the tasks for the development of the bilateral relations set forth by the leaders of the two countries would be surely carried out, overcoming all obstacles, and thereby the relations between Russia and the DPRK would develop more significantly and dynamically.

The participants in the reception toasted the good health of Comrade Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, and the steady development of the invincible alliance between the peoples of the DPRK and Russia.

The reception proceeded in an atmosphere of comradeship and friendship.

KCNA