It has been known that North Korea informed South Korea that around 20 North Korean athletes and staff will participate in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 

Speaking to Yonhap News by phone Thursday, a member of the South Korean ruling Democratic Party quoted a Seoul official as saying the North disclosed the approximate size of its delegation to the PyeongChang Games during the inter-Korean high-level talks on Tuesday. 

There is a possibility the North will likely participate in the figure skating pairs event, which the country initially qualified for but missed the registration deadline, as well as in women’s ice hockey competitions. 

The official said the North was aware of the concern that its participation in PyeongChang could lead to the downsizing of the South Korean delegation, but assured Seoul that it will try not to cause any disadvantage to the South by trying to secure wild card entries or through other efforts. 

According to the official, the North was also said to have expressed that it will send a delegation to the PyeongChang Paralympics.