North Korea misses figure skating deadline for Pyeongchang - ISU

North Korea has missed the deadline to confirm its pairs figure skating spot at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, but the International Olympic Committee could give them a dispensation to compete, the International Skating Union (ISU) said on Friday.

North Korean skaters Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik grabbed one of the last qualifying spots for the Pyeongchang Olympics in September, becoming the first athletes from their country to secure a spot for the 2018 Games, starting in February.

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But the ISU said North Korea had not confirmed its place by the Nov. 30 deadline, meaning that the slot would be passed to Japan, and making the pair's participation a matter for the IOC.

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Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik of North Korea perform during their pairs free skating program of the 49th Nebelhorn trophy figure skating competition in Oberstdorf, southern Germany, on September 29, 2017.

Image credit: Getty Images

A spokesperson for the IOC said:

In the hypothetical situation that PRK (North Korea) would subsequently ask for its quota confirmation, the ISU would refer such request to the IOC.

The IOC reserves the right to hand out special participation spots for the Games, and is eager to have North Korean athletes present. It has been helping several of them with equipment, travel and accommodation in their efforts to qualify.

South Korea has also said it will wait until the last moment for a North Korean team at the Games.