The New York Times says South Korea's Pyeongchang is seen as a likely front-runner to host the 2018 Winter Games when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) votes on the site next July.

The NYT says the mountain resort in Gangwon Province remains a favorite even though four leaders in promoting the bid have been convicted in South Korea of financial malfeasance or political corruption.

It says IOC members prefer awarding the Games to different regions of the globe, and Pyeongchang has the advantage of being in Asia, where the Winter Games have been held only twice. The Times said some believe it is Pyeongchang’s time to win after its failed bids for the 2010 and 2014 events.

The paper said that Pyeongchang has made its case by emphasizing its beautiful scenery but that it's unclear what effect North Korea’s recent shelling of a South Korean island, which killed four people, will have on Pyeongchang’s chances.