North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a foodstuff factory for athletes, calling for a boost in production of nutritious food to help the country's sportsmen, Pyongyang's official news agency reported Sunday.

The Korean Central News Agency, monitored in Seoul, said Kim gave his field guidance to the Kumkop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspersons, without giving a specific time frame for his visit.

The English-language report said Kim praised the workers for their high productivity and their application of "advanced technology" in packaging.

Kim also noted the importance of the factory "not only in the sports field but also in developing the nation's food industry."

"He underscored the need for the factory to put main emphasis on boosting the production of varieties of foodstuff helpful to the care for nutrition of sportspersons and their recovery from fatigue and steadily improving their quality," the report added.

Kim was accompanied by Choe Ryong-hae, secretary of the Central Committee in the Workers' Party of Korea, and Kim Yo-jong, the leader's younger sister and a vice department director of the same Central Committee. (Yonhap)