IOC meeting

Meanwhile, DPRK Olympic officials have arrived in Switzerland ahead of weekend talks at the International Olympic Committee to finalize Pyongyang's participation in the Winter Games.

Guk Kim-il, president of the DPRK Olympic committee, arrived at Geneva's Cointrin airport on a flight from Beijing, but made no comments to reporters.

DPRK IOC member Chang Ung met the delegation. Asked whether he expected Pyongyang and Seoul to settle outstanding issues at Saturday's talks, he appeared optimistic.

"Everything's fine," he said.

The IOC has said that Saturday's meeting would take a series of "essential decisions" on the DPRK's participation at the Games that open in Pyeongchang on Feb 9.

These would include the number and names of athletes from the DPRK as well as questions of protocol, including flags, ceremonies and uniform.

XINHUA-REUTERS