Beijing backs peninsula proposals

China supports the idea of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea using the 2018 Winter Olympics to improve ties, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. The ROK will host the Games in Pyeongchang in February.

DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un said in a New Year's Day speech that Pyongyang was willing to talk with Seoul about it possibly participating in the upcoming Winter Olympics.

ROK President Moon Jae-in welcomed Kim's proposal and ordered government officials to rapidly restore inter-Korean talks and draft follow-up measures to make it possible for the DPRK delegation to participate.