A NORTH KOREAN official said Friday he will discuss the idea of co-hosting South Korea’s 2018 Winter Games with Olympic chief Thomas Bach, as Seoul denied suggesting such a move.

Jang Woong, the North’s delegate to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will meet IOC President Thomas Bach in South Korea this week.

He was speaking after South Korea’s sports minister was quoted as saying some skiing events for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games could be held in North Korea.

“That is not something the two sides can decide,” Jang told reporters when he was asked about North Korea potentially hosting Olympic events.

Despite Jang’s comments, South Korea said Sports Minister Do Jong-hwan was misunderstood when he mentioned a North Korean skiing resort in relation to next February’s Games.

“Do repeatedly made it clear that he meant to say using Masikryong resort as a possible venue for training of athletes or rehearsals before the Games,” sports ministry spokesman Park Jung-youl said. (SD-Agencies)