N. Korea's participation in 2018 Winter Olympics depends on IOC rules: gov't

North Korea's participation in the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang depends entirely on the rules and procedures outlined by the International Olympic Committee, the unification ministry said Monday.

The ministry gave its stance after the Voice of America reported that North Korea's Olympic committee on Sunday said there is no particular reason why the country cannot take part in the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang that runs from Feb. 9-26, 2018. The North said that if all goes as planned the event can contribute to the eventual unification of the two Koreas.

The U.S.-based media outlet then said the North proposed holding inter-Korean talks to discuss outstanding issues.

"Pyongyang cited inter-Korean consultations as a necessary step for its participation, passing the ball to Seoul for the opening of talks. But it is not appropriate," Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said. 

As for North Korea sending Choe Ryong-hae, the vice chairman of the Workers' Party's Central Committee, to Brazil to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which starts Aug. 5, the ministry spokesman interpreted the move as the North's "efforts to improve its national image through the Summer Olympics after being slapped with international sanctions."

In March, the U.N. Security Council imposed its toughest-ever sanctions on North Korea for its fourth nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch the following month. (Yonhap)