North Korea would like to co-host the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in South Korean alpine town of PyeongChang, a senior North Korean sports official said Wednesday.
Jang Ung, a North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said it was "positive" for Asia to host only its third Winter Games. When asked about the possibility of sharing some events with PyeongChang, Jang replied, "I hope so."
"The political and military situations between the Koreas aren't good, and they have to be improved," Jang said. "Otherwise, they could influence the Olympics."
Jang arrived in Tokyo to attend the general assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
PyeongChang beat Munich of Germany and Annecy of France last week to win the bid for the 2018 Games. Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, head of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, said earlier this week that he will explore ways for the two Koreas to co-host the Games.
The two Koreas remain technically at war with each other because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. They have fielded joint teams in football and in table tennis in international events, but never at an Olympics or an Asian Games. They have marched in together for opening ceremonies, most recently at the 2004 Athens Olympics. (Yonhap News)
