A North Korean sports official says the North welcomes the possibility of jointly hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics with South Korea.

North Korea’s International Olympic Committee member Chang Ung, who arrived in Japan Wednesday to attend the Olympic Council of Asia general assembly, told reporters that hosting of the Winter Games in Asia is good, and added he hopes the North can share the opportunity with the South to jointly host the event.

Chang also said that the political and military situations between the two Koreas are unfavorable at this time. The IOC member stressed that the situation should be improved, and if not, it could have an impact on the Olympic Games.

Later on Wednesday, however, the North Korean official changed the tone of his earlier remarks, saying that it is too early to discuss such issues related to a proposed joint hosting of the Winter Olympics.

Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party in South Korea, said on Monday that he would seriously consider jointly hosting the Winter Games with North Korea.

South Korea’s Pyeongchang won its bid to host the Winter Olympics in a vote at the IOC session in Durban, South Africa last week.