The two Koreas have agreed that North Korean athletes will compete in four sporting events at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Lee Hee-beom, head of the organizing committee for PyeongChang 2018, said on Thursday that North Korea will send athletes to compete in pair figure skating, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and women's ice hockey.

In women's ice hockey, the two Koreas agreed to add five or six North Korean athletes to the 23-member South Korean team.

The two sides agreed on the overall number of North Korean athletes, but details on the North's Olympic participation are likely to be finalized at Saturday's talks hosted by the International Olympic Committee(IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Meanwhile, the two Koreas will begin mutual visits and exchanges between their officials from next week to prepare for the North's participation. 

The two sides also agreed to allow a cheering squad of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan. 

The IOC will burden costs for the North Korean athletes, while costs for other participants will likely be paid from South Korea's Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund.