IOC: N. Korea to have 22 athletes

agreement for the cameras.

South Korea's sports minister, Do Jong-hwan, said through a translator of the accord: “It is very important for the Korean peninsula.”

When Do was asked if North Korea had given any guarantees not to use the Olympics for political reasons, the translator intervened to say “I don't think we can take that question.”

There has been skepticism about Kim Jong Un's offer. Critics believe he may try to leverage the Olympics to weaken U.S.-led international pressure and sanctions toughened due to North Korea’s prolonged program of nuclear tests and missile launches.

Bach said the IOC had talked with Olympic officials from both countries separately since 2014 to see if the Pyenongchang Games could be the catalyst for peace-making.

“This was not an easy journey,” said Bach, who competed in fencing at the Olympics for West Germany when it was divided from its neighbor to the east.

The deal confirmed Saturday built on a breakthrough agreement reached Wednesday at the Korean neighbors' shared border.

“The Olympic Games show us what the world could look like, if we were all guided by the Olympic spirit of respect and understanding,” Bach said.

The united women's hockey team will be the first time the two Koreas will have joined together in Olympic events.

They will play under the Olympic code of “COR” — the French acronym for Korea — and hear the song “Arirang” as a pre-game anthem.

The roster will include 12 players from the north and 23 from the south.