In talks with Kim, Kang expressed her hope that the North Korean leader would promptly make a visit to Seoul to strengthen the drive to bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula. The North's leader earlier agreed to visit the South Korean capital before the year's end to reciprocate Moon's trip to Pyongyang in September.

The North Korean official was quoted as telling the minister that the two sides should work together to improve inter-Korean ties.

The talks took place during a welcome luncheon on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony and were not planned ahead, the ministry said.

The conversation went on in an amicable atmosphere, with Kim extending greetings to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a ministry official said.

The minister also briefly met with Ivanka Trump -- US President Donald Trump's daughter and a White House adviser -- the ministry said, without elaborating further.

Kang also met with the new Mexican leader and delivered Moon's congratulations along with his willingness to maintain the two countries' "strategic partner" relationship.

On Friday, Kang sat down with her new Mexican counterpart, Marcelo Ebrard, and discussed ways to expand cooperation, the ministry said.

During the ministerial meeting, the South Korean minister asked for Mexico's support for Seoul to join the Pacific Alliance as an associate member and invited Ebrard to visit Seoul sometime next year, it said.

(Yonhap)