The Voice of America(VOA) said Saturday that North Korea sees no problem in taking part in the 2018 Winter Olympics taking place in the South Korean city of Pyeongchang.

In a phone interview with the U.S. broadcaster, Ri Yong-son, vice chief of North Korea's Olympic Committee, said that there would be no reason not to attend the Pyeongchang Games as long as all things proceed smoothly and conditions are fostered. Ri added that the
North's participation will contribute to Korean unification. 

The official claimed that North Korea wants to continue exchanges in sports but the South has shut its door and is not responding.

Ri also confirmed the North's stance that a trial team from the North Korea-led International Taekwondo Federation is able to join the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships opening in South Korea's Muju in North Jeolla Province.

In August 2014, the two Koreas adopted a letter of intent promising to form a multinational team on a trial basis, among other plans.

Ri Yong-sun, who also serves as president of the North Korea-led International Taekwondo Federation, currently resides in Vienna, Austria where the federation is based.