Pyongyang: North Korea's state media on Thursday reported on the outcome of South Korea's presidential election for the first time, announcing that Lee Jae-myung has been elected as South Korea's new leader.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea conducted the presidential election on June 3, following the ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law bid in December. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) provided a brief report confirming Lee's victory as the candidate from the Democratic Party.

The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's principal newspaper aimed at domestic audiences, also published the news of Lee's election. This marks the first occasion that North Korea has acknowledged South Korea's latest presidential election results, as the nation had not previously commented on the political landscape after Yoon's removal.

Historically, North Korea's propaganda channels have been known to criticize South Korea's electoral processes and political affairs. However, recent developments suggest a shift, with North Korea choosing not to comment on South Korea's political situation after Kim Jong-un characterized inter-Korean relations as those between "two states hostile to each other" in late 2023, as noted by experts.