Pyongyang: The president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), currently visiting Pyongyang, has observed a practice match and met with North Korea's sports minister, the North's state media reported Wednesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a WBSC delegation headed by Riccardo Fraccari observed a five-member practice baseball match the previous day, in what is seen as efforts to promote baseball and softball in the North. The move came after an article posted on the WBSC website recently showed the confederation's executive board approved new members -- North Korea's Baseball Association and the Baseball and Softball Federation of Luxembourg. All new memberships are subject to final endorsement at the upcoming WBSC Congress to be held in Bangkok in October, it said.

Fraccari, who arrived in Pyongyang on Saturday, also held talks with the North's Olympic Committee Chairman and Sports Minister Kim Il-guk the previous day, the KCNA said. While the state media outlet did not provide further details, they are widely viewed to have discussed sports cooperation during Tuesday's meeting. During a visit to South Korea in 2014, Fraccari expressed his openness to visiting North Korea to promote baseball.

The WBSC delegation also visited major landmarks and sports facilities in Pyongyang, including the Mangyongdae, the birthplace of North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung, according to the KCNA.