Two Koreas can co-host Asian Games: N Korean IOC official

Seoul [South Korea], Feb 21 (ANI): Chang Ung, the North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said on Tuesday that it was "absolutely possible" for the two Koreas to jointly host the 2021 Asian Winter Games.

Chang stated that if the proposal happened, then the Masikryong Ski Resort, situated on the outskirts of Wonsan city in North Korea could be used as one of the venues for the Games.

"It is sufficiently and absolutely possible. Since a smaller number of countries participate in the Asian Games, it would be easier to host than the Olympics," he was quoted by the Yonhap news agency as saying.

This comes after Chang on Saturday said that he was considering a bid for the two Koreas to co-host the Asian Games.

He termed the participation of the North Korean athletes in the ongoing Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as "a step to demonstrate peace and harmony among all Korean people".

After a series of inter-Korean talks, North Korea agreed to send its athletes to Pyeongchang Winter Games. It also fielded a joint women's ice hockey team. Also, the two Koreas marched under a united flag in the opening ceremony of the Winter Games on February 9.

Pyongyang sent a group of cheerleaders and an art troupe to South Korea.

A North Korean delegation arrived in South Korea last week, which was led by the North Korean ceremonial leader, Kim Yong-nam and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong. The delegation met with South Korean officials, including President Moon Jae-in.

It also proposed for an inter-Korean summit to take place in Pyongyang and invited Moon to meet Kim at the earliest date possible.

The Asian Winter Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years.

The host of the 2021 event will be decided at the 2018 Asian Summer Games, which will be hosted by Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.

The 2017 Asian Winter Games was held in Sapporo in Japan from February 19-26 last year. (ANI)