KBS has confirmed that North Korea sought to hamper South Korea’s 1988 Olympics and establishment of diplomatic ties with Soviet Union in the 1980s.

KBS made the confirmation Saturday after studying records of two conversations between Hwang Jang-yop, then-secretary of the North Korean Workers Party and Alexander Yakovlev, secretary of the Soviet Communist Party.

During their conversation in May 1986, Hwang had called for Soviet’s support to pressure South Korea to host the Olympics jointly with the North, adding that if such efforts collapse a serious crisis would emerge.

Hwang’s mention of a “serious crisis” is drawing attention as it likely refers to the 1987 Korean Air bombing which killed all one-hundred-15 aboard.

In response, Yakovlev urged the North to exercise caution, adding that the Soviet Union would take part in the Seoul Olympics.’

Hwang was also found to have met with Yakovlev in October 1988, shortly after the Seoul Olympics, in an attempt hamper Seoul and Moscow’s efforts to establish diplomatic ties.

At the time, Yakovlev stressed that the world is changing quickly and urged Pyongyang to shed outdated beliefs and approach new ideas.

Hwang defected to the South in 1997 and is the highest-ranking North Korean official ever to escape to South Korea.