Could North Korea’s participation in Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games ease tension over nuclear crisis?

South Korea’s government is urging North Korea to participate in the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games as a measure of security during the two weeks of competition and as way to promote a longer-term reduction in tension on the Korean Peninsula.

“Although North Korea hasn’t given an official response yet, we are very hopeful that they will compete. For them to participate is a sign that we’ll have safe and secure and good Games,” Do Jong-hwan, South Korea’s minister of culture, sports and tourism, said at an event organised by the New York-based Korea Society.

“I hope that the Games will help lay the foundation for dialogue and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula which is going through political tension,” said Do, adding that North Korea’s participation in the Pyeongchang Games is likely to be “a last-minute decision”.

North Korean figure skaters Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik qualified for the 2018 Winter Games at an International Skating Union competition in Oberstdorf, Germany in September. The pair’s participation in the Games is now up to the North Korean Olympic committee.

The Pyeongchang Games will take place just 80km from South Korea’s heavily fortified border with its estranged neighbour to the north. The mountainous resort town will host the largest Winter Games yet in terms of participants and events.