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North Korean pair figure skaters Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has extended the deadline for North Korea to register for the 2018 Pyeongchang winter Olympics. This makes it officially possible for North Korean athletes to take part in the games. In a statement on Jan. 8, the IOC said it is holding open the door for North Korea to participate in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. To make that possible, the statement added, the IOC has taken the step of extending the registration deadline for the North to join the games.

At the moment, not a single North Korea athlete is eligible to participate in the Pyeongchang Olympics. The figure skating pair Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik were the only North Korean athletes who earned a spot in the games, but they forfeited this to Japan, the next candidate in line, after they failed to express their intention of competing by the end of last year.

The IOC’s measure, however, makes it possible once again for this figuring skating pair to compete. The decision was made after North Korean IOC member Chang Ung arrived in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Jan. 8, and half a day before high-level inter-Korean talks, further increasing the likelihood that North Korea will participate in the Pyeongchang Olympics. This week, Chang will be meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach for concrete discussions about the size of North Korea’s Olympic team and the events in which they can compete. There is even speculation that North Korea and the IOC could find a way for North Koreans other than the figure skating pair to compete as wildcards in short track and alpine skiing events.

In a statement by its spokesperson, the IOC welcomed high-level inter-Korean talks and expressed its hope that all athletes would be able to transcend political disputes and differences to compete together in the Olympics. The IOC also said that it would take the appropriate steps to provide assistance to North Korean athletes while respecting UN sanctions.

By Kim Dong-hoon, staff reporter

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