Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon says forming a joint women's ice hockey team with North Korea won't disadvantage South Korean athletes at the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.

The prime minister made the remark on Tuesday during a luncheon meeting with reporters after being asked whether South Korean athletes would lose opportunities to compete in the games if a single team is formed with the North.

He said the women's ice hockey team would compete by switching players every one to two minutes during the games.

Lee stressed that North Korean players would not deprive South Koreans of their quota and that there are ongoing negotiations to increase the size of the Korean team.