South Korea’s Unification Ministry says North Korea’s participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang should be decided according to international practices and rules and procedures of the Games.

Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said on Monday that the North should secure qualifications for the Games first, adding it did not participate in the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

Jeong said necessary qualifications should be secured before a decision on whether the country can participate in the 2018 Games is made in accordance with relevant international regulations and procedures.

Earlier in the day, Japan’s Kyodo News reported that Japan will allow North Korean athletes and officials to take part in the Sapporo Asian Winter Games set to open on February 19th.