Kim, 20, missed her combination jump midway through her routine but made no mistake on the second attempt to earn 65.91 points, some 13 shy of her personal best achieved during her gold-medal performance at last year's Olympics.

"I'm a little disappointed that I didn't do a clean program today," said the South Korean, who had not competed this season after briefly considering retirement following her second-place finish at last year's worlds.

"I tried to focus on my flip and then I missed the combination," added the 2009 world champion, who fired her Canadian coach Brian Orser last August.

"But I was able to switch my combination to the flip and added a double toe-loop to it. The rest of the program wasn't so bad. I'm in first place right now, so I'm pleased with that." Kim leads Japan's Miki Ando by less than half a point going into Saturday's free program.

Russia's Ksenia Makarova was third on 61.62 points, just ahead of US champion Alissa Czisny, while defending champion Mao Asada of Japan lies seventh following a poor performance.

Asada, who upstaged Kim to win last year's worlds, made a two-footed landing on her triple axel and had a few other minor wobbles as she dropped more than seven points off the lead.

"I'm very disappointed about my mistake on the triple axel," said Asada, born in the same year and month as her great rival Kim.

"I'm sad because I couldn't show what I'm capable of. Now I'll switch my mind on tomorrow and will try to put everything together and skate a really strong performance." Ice dancers start their battle for gold with their short program at Moscow's Khodynka arena later on Friday.