SOUTH KOREAN President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to help North Korea participate in next year’s Winter Games, saying it would contribute to regional and world peace.

Moon, who has advocated engagement with the neighbor, has suggested that two Koreas form a joint team for the 2018 Winter Games, which the South is hosting in Pyeongchang.

The South and the North are separated by one of the world’s most heavily armed borders and remain technically at war after the Korean War ended in 1953. Pyongyang boycotted the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

Organizers of Pyeongchang 2018 have urged Pyongyang to take part to make them a “peace Olympics.” But no North Korean athletes have so far qualified for the Games, raising the prospect that none will attend.

An inter-Korea unified team could allow North Koreans to take part in team events such as ice hockey, while “wildcards” could enable them to bypass the qualification rules.(SD-Agencies)