On Seoul's welcoming response to Kim's remark that he would consider sending a delegation to the Winter Olympic Games to be held in the South Korean alpine town of PyeongChang next month, the official, asking not to be named, said, "We are confident in the South Korean government's commitment to hosting a safe and successful Olympic Winter Games."

The official also expressed thanks for South Korea's seizure of two foreign vessels suspected of transferring oil products to North Korea at sea in violation of the UN sanctions, the broadcaster said.

Pertinent to UN Resolutions 2375 and 2397, the South seized the Hong Kong-flagged Lighthouse Winmore on Nov. 24 and Panama-flagged KOTI on Dec. 21, both for allegedly making ship-to-ship transactions of petroleum products with the North. They are still under probe at South Korean ports.

"We are grateful for the ROK's continued efforts to fully enforce UN Resolutions and take action against violations of UN sanctions," the official said.

The Resolution 2375, adopted in September, bans member countries from ship-to-ship transfers of any goods for North Korea. Resolution 2397, adopted just a week earlier, allows a country to capture and look into a vessel suspected of engaging in prohibited activities with North Korea. (Yonhap)