Kim Yo-jong

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared victory over the coronavirus in his country, world agencies reported, citing official media.

Kim "solemnly declared victory in the highly extraordinary anti-epidemic campaign to eradicate the new coronavirus," the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

North Korea has announced it will not take part in the Tokyo Olympics this year, saying the decision is to protect its athletes from Covid-19.

The decision puts an end to South Korea's hopes of using the Games to engage with the North amid stalled cross-border talks.

 In 2018, both sides entered a joint team at the Winter Olympics which led to a series of historic summits.

China has confirmed that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has visited Beijing, where he met the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and pledged his commitment to denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

Confirming several reports over the last two days, Xinhua state news agency said Kim had been in China on an "unofficial visit" from Sunday to Wednesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised South Korea for the "impressive" efforts to meet the North delegation during the Olympic Games in Pyongyang, Nova TV reported.

His comments were made after the return to Pyongyang of the delegation led by his sister. Kim Jong-un thanked South Korea for the importance it gave to the North Korean representatives.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister will visit South Korea for the Winter Olympics in PeyongChang, the South Korean ministry of national unification said. Kim Yo-jong, who is the senior executive of the Korean Labor Party, will be part of a high-level delegation expected Friday in South Korea. She is responsible for the propaganda activity of the ruling party.