LIMA (Reuters) - The escalating North Korean crisis had so far raised "no hint” of a security threat for next year’s Pyeongchang 2018 winter Olympics in South Korea, the International Olympic Committee has said.
Hours after the United Nations Security Council unanimously stepped up sanctions against North Korea over the country’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test conducted on Sept. 3, IOC President Thomas Bach said the Games next year were under no threat so far.
Earlier this month North Korea launched its biggest nuclear bomb test.
"There is so far not even a hint that there is a threat for the security of the Games in the context of the tensions between North Korea and some other countries,” Bach told reporters.
"We are in contact with governments concerned. In all these conversations with the leading figures in the different governments we can see there is no doubt being raised about the winter Games of 2018.”
Bach said he was hoping for a diplomatic solution before the Games start next February.
"We are also keeping the door open for the athletes of the DPRK. The Games are open for all national Olympic committees. This contact continues,” Bach said.
The Pyeongchang Games, the first Winter Olympics in Asia to be staged outside Japan, will run from Feb 9-25.