The DPRK embassy in Moscow hosted a reception on September 5 on the occasion of the 77 th founding anniversary of the DPRK.

Present there on invitation were Andrei Beloussov, minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Ivan Melinikov, first deputy speaker of the State Duma, Mikhail Galujin, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexandr Fomin, vice-minister of Defense, Vitaly Shulika, vice-minister of Interior and personages of government, parliament, organizations and organs including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Science and High Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Supreme Prosecutor's Office.

DPRK Ambassador Sin Hong Chol and staff members of his embassy were on hand.

The participants laid a flower basket and bouquets before the art work depicting President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il standing together and paid tribute to them.

They looked round the photos dealing with the precious revolutionary careers and exploits of the President and the Chairman and the undying exploits performed by the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un for the development of the DPRK-Russia friendly relations, works of the peerlessly great men and the photos showing the might and development of the DPRK.

Prior to the reception, the minister of Defense warmly congratulated the 77 th founding anniversary of the DPRK on behalf of the Ministry of Defense, stressing that the relations between the peoples of the two countries are linked to those above friendship because the Russia-DPRK relations were formed in the battles in which the service personnel of the two countries fought shoulder to shoulder.

He expressed sincere thanks and respect to the service personnel of the Korean People's Army involved in the battle to liberate the Kursk area from the neo-Nazism forces of the Kiev regime with the Russian soldiers.

Speeches were made there.

The first deputy speaker of the State Duma referred to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding that the Russia-DPRK friendship has undergone many trials for a long time since then but he more keenly felt the DPRK's firm support to Russia.

The vice-minister of Foreign Affairs said that after the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948, the two countries were firmly united into the traditional friendly and good-neighborly relations and the close ties based on equality, mutual respect and national interests and common historic memories remain unchanged and are of more special significance today.

The vice-minister of Defense lauded that the glorious tradition of the DPRK is ongoing under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un and the DPRK is reliably defended by the Korean People's Army equipped with modern weapons and powerful combat capability.

The meeting and talks between the leaders of the two countries held in Beijing proved once again the solidity and invincibility of the strategic relations between Russia and the DPRK, he added.

The mutual cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang covers not only military but also all other fields, he pointed out.