Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent a verbal message to Chinese President Xi Jinping to congratulate him on the country's success in controlling COVID-19, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.

"Kim Jong Un in his message extended his warm greetings to Xi Jinping and congratulated him, highly appreciating that he is seizing a chance of victory in the war against the unprecedented epidemic," said KCNA.

Kim wished Xi good health and the KCNA report said the relations between Pyongyang and Beijing were "firmly consolidated."

"The relations between the two sides were firmly consolidated, while overcoming all sorts of trials and challenges of history, and are getting closer and further developing on good terms with each passing day," said Kim in the message, KCNA reported.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, both countries have maintained close contact since the beginning of the outbreak.

"China is willing to continue strengthening cooperation with the DPRK and push for the further development of China-DPRK ties," ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Friday.