Winter Olympics: Kim Jong-un thanks South Korea for 'impressive' effort

Image copyrightKCNA

Image captionThis handout photo by KCNA shows Kim Jong-un, who appears to be supported by Ms Kim Yo-jong on his left and Mr Kim Yong-nam on his right

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has praised South Korea for its "impressive" efforts in hosting a delegation from the North during the Winter Olympics.

His comments came as the delegation, led by Mr Kim's sister Kim Yo-jong, returned home from Pyeongchang.

State media outlet KCNA said Mr Kim had thanked the South for "prioritizing" their visit to the Games.

North Korea's attendance has been seen as a significant warming in relations.

But there have also been concerns that it has allowed North Korea to win a propaganda victory.

"After receiving the delegation's report, Kim Jong-un expressed satisfaction over it," KCNA reported.

It said Mr Kim had been impressed by "the features of the south side, which specially prioritized the visit of the members of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea... and expressed thanks for them".

Ms Kim and the North's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam made up the most senior delegation from the North to visit the South since the Korean War in the 1950s.

Mr Kim had on Saturday invited the South's President Moon Jae-in to Pyongyang for talks. If the summit takes place, it will be the first meeting in more than a decade between Korean leaders.

The invitation came as ties between the two Koreas appear to be warming.

However Pyongyang's continuing nuclear ambitions hang over any attempts to bring the countries closer together.

• North Korea is subject to a raft of sanctions from the US, the UN and the EU, which were imposed in response to its ballistic missile launches and nuclear tests.