International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (C) shakes hands with Sports Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Il Guk (L) at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, capitla of the DPRK, March 31, 2018. Thomas Bach ended a three-day visit to the DPRK on Saturday, when he said that the IOC and the DPRK have reached agreement on DPRK's participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. (Xinhua/Cheng Dayu)
PYONGYANG, March 31 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach Saturday wound up a three-day visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during which he met with the DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un.
Bach described the visit as a "very fruitful" one and said the IOC will help DPRK prepare for the participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
"We have an agreement with regard to the participation of athletes from DPRK in the Olympic Games at Tokyo in 2020 as well as the Winter Olympic Games of Beijing in 2022. We have on the other side agreement that IOC would support preparation, qualification and participation of athletes of DPRK in different international events now and maybe in different training camps," Bach told Xinhua at the airport.
The IOC chief also said that DPRK and IOC will have more time to prepare for DPRK athletes well so that they can perform for the best in the forthcoming Olympic Games as well as Youth Olympics.
Bach met with Kim Jong Un during the visit and the DPRK top leader thanked him for his support to the participation of DPRK athletes in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics last month, according to Korean Central News Agency.
"The supreme leader of DPRK is considering support (for sports development). That's a pillar in the future development (of sports) for the society of DPRK and that will be very much important for the education and health here in the country," said Bach.
Bach has previously praised the DPRK and South Korea for their efforts at detente and peace-making during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics last month.
