Earlier Kim Jong-un had blasted the South for praising Donald Trump this weekend, leaving a back cloud lingering over talks.

South Korea are likely demand answers from the hermit state which has avoided concrete answers to direct diplomatic requests, just weeks ahead of the games which will see the world’s best winter sport athletes descending on the region.

It was agreed last week that Pyongyang would be allowed to send a delegation to the international games in the first meeting between the nations in more than two years.

Meeting in the demilitarised zone (DMZ), the neighbouring countries are expected to discuss conditions surrounding participation in the event, including the future of the North’s nuclear weapons programme.

Four arts officials will attend from the North led by Kwon Hyok-bong, former head of the North's Unhasu Orchestra, who is now director of the performing arts bureau at the culture ministry.

It is expected that at the Olympics next month there will be a joint women's hockey team but it is unlikely the countries will participate together in other events.

One of the teams Kim Jong-un wants to send south of the border for the games, which take place between February 9 and 15, is a dance troupe.

More to follow…