South Korea and the DPRK have presented a joint proposal to the International Olympic Committee, to host the Summer Games in 2032. The two countries both sent delegations to Lausanne. CGTN's Guy Henderson has this report from the Swiss city.  

Olympic officials are calling it a "historic initiative". Though as both sports ministers arrived, their demeanors marked their differences. Seoul's envoy face to the cameras. While Kim Jong Un's emissary pulled up tight to the doorway – to be whisked more discreetly inside. Then – after this official greeting – the sports diplomacy began with a 2 and a half hour discussion which took place behind closed doors.

GUY HENDERSON LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND "This is a working meeting, it's a low key affair. And really a chance for all sides involved to test the waters. And work out whether it's really practical for them to launch a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games. And in fact, whether it's desirable."

Because any more of this could still mean war: that'd leave the games – indeed the world – in the midst of a major crisis.

But the hope is coming together in sport could itself help avert that. A year ago, the DPRK's last-moment decision to send a team south to the Winter Olympic Games was seen as an important symbolic moment. And as an added bonus, there aren't many nations whose fans can do this. Most don't get the chance to cross the most heavily fortified border. So emerging from the meeting, Olympic officials made clear a successful bid would depend on changes well outside the remit of sport. But that this was an important first step.

March is their next board meeting. Though time may be on their side: the Games are 13 years away. The decision on who'll host them is due in 2025.

GH, CGTN, Lausanne.