IOC official: DPRK 'likely' to join PyeongChang Winter Olympics

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An official representing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Saturday that the country was "likely to participate" in next month's Winter Olympics in the Republic of Korea (ROK), Kyodo news agency reported.

The comments by Chang Ung, Pyongyang's representative to IOC, came a day after the DPRK and ROK agreed to hold rare talks next week and hours after Seoul and Washington announced they would postpone joint military exercises that rile the DPRK.

The Japanese news agency said Chang made the brief comment to reporters during a stopover at Beijing's international airport.

A ROK government official communicates with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) side via the communication channel in Panmunjom, on January 3, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Kyodo said Chang was believed to be traveling to Switzerland, where the IOC is based.

It quoted unnamed sources saying the trip may be aimed at meeting with the IOC to discuss the DPRK's potential participation in the Games at PyeongChang, South Korea.

The DPRK leader Kim Jong Un said in a new year speech that his country wished success for the Winter Olympics, to be held from February 9 to 25, and would consider sending a delegation.

The DPRK and ROK have been separated by the world's most heavily militarized border since the Korean War ended in a stalemate in 1953.

Seoul and organizers are keen for the DPRK to take part in the Games to help ease worsening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The New Year has witnessed a marked softening of tone on both sides.

Seoul has reacted warmly to Kim's Olympic overture and the DPRK and ROK this week restored a cross-border hotline that had been shut down since 2016 and agreed to hold high-level talks next week, the first since 2015.

Those talks are expected to focus on matters including the DPRK's Olympic participation.

Also in recent days, the United States and South Korea agreed to delay their joint military exercises until after the Olympics, apparently to ease the tension with Pyongyang.

Source(s): AFP