North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un, center, is surrounded by women in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency, Jan. 3. Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has met with athletes from the national women's football team and praised their recent victory in the Under-17 Women's World Cup, state media reported Friday.

In the meeting held the previous day, Kim praised them for "highly promoting" the nation's honor with the World Cup victory against Spain in November, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

He also encouraged their further advancement, it added.

The victory marks another Women's World Cup achievement for the national team following its clinching of the world title in the Women's Under-20 World Cup earlier last year.

Photos carried by the KCNA showed Kim giving two thumbs-ups to the young athletes and clenching his fists in jubilance. (Yonhap)