Athletes from the DPRK and South Korea will march together at Friday's opening ceremony. A group of cheerleaders from the DPRK has already arrived. Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of the DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un will also be there. CGTN's Jim Spellman has more.

The Olympic torch is close at hand and the athletes are getting in their final training as the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang will soon begin.

WILLIAM RHOADS USA SKI JUMPING TEAM "It hasn't really set in yet. I think opening ceremony's when its' really going to hit, but it's exciting."

A group of cheerleaders from the DPRK has arrived. The athletes from both countries will march together, and players from each side will make up a joint women's ice hockey team. Many South Koreans are welcoming the cooperation, even if it's only temporary.

"Everyone knows that North Korea will, you know, participate our Olympics. So maybe this is the only, I mean, this is a good opportunity to all over the world."

The younger sister of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un will attend the games. Kim Yo Jong will be the first member of Kim Jong Un's immediate family to visit South Korea, the latest sign of the Olympic spirit bringing together the Seoul and Pyongyang. But the U.S. is using the Winter Olympics to send a tough message about the DPRK nuclear program. The U.S. delegation will be led by Vice President Mike Pence. Speaking in Japan, Pence said new sanctions against the DPRK will be announced soon.

MIKE PENCE US VICE PRESIDENT "Together with Japan and our allies let the world know this: we will continue to intensify our maximum pressure campaign until North Korea takes concrete steps toward complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization."

Meantime, the fate of 13 Russian athletes and two coaches is unclear. The athletes have been banned from the games for Russia's violation of anti-doping rules. A last-ditch appeal is underway at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Olympics officials are taking a tough stance against performance enhancing substances.

MARK ADAMS, SPOKESMAN INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE "During the Games, there will be over 2,500 tests, blood and urine tests, 1,400 out-of-competition, 1,000 in competition. And athletes from Russia have been tested twice as much as any other nation."

Also on the health front, there's been an outbreak of the highly contagious norovirus in Pyeongchang. Dozens confirmed sick but so far no athletes.

JIM SPELLMAN WASHINGTON "But the biggest issue for those attending the Games may be the weather. Temperatures for Friday's opening ceremony may be as cold as 10 below zero Celsius. Jim Spellman, CGTN, Washington."