South Korea’s Unification Ministry says that North Korea appears to have sent a high-ranking Workers' Party official to the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics to improve Pyongyang's national image through the Games and boost the morale of its people, after being slapped with international sanctions.

Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee presented the assessment on Monday during a regular news briefing.

Pyeongyang sent Choe Ryong-hae, the vice chairman of the Workers' Party's Central Committee, to Brazil to attend the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics, which start on Friday.

The spokesman also said that the North’s participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang depends on the rules and procedures of the International Olympic Committee(IOC).

Jeong said that the North called for inter-Korean talks on its participation, passing the buck to Seoul for opening talks, but it is not appropriate.

The Voice of America reported on Sunday that the vice chief of the North’s Olympic Committee Ri Yong-son said there is no reason for the North not to take part in the Pyeongchang Olympics if all goes as planned and a favorable atmosphere is created.

The North Korean official reportedly proposed holding inter-Korean talks to discuss related issues.