The hermit state announced today it had reached a deal with its neighbours to the South to send a team and a 230-strong “cheering squad” to the games at Pyeongchang next month.
Accompanying the athletes will be a delegation of officials from the hermit kingdom, as well as potentially a high-level representative of Kim Jong-un.
The prestigious games, which are set to take place just 50 miles from the heavily fortified demilitarised zone (DMZ) which separates the two Koreas, will also be attended by US Vice President Mike Pence
And a South Korean professor has raised the possibility of one of Kim’s inner circle coming face-to-face with Mr Pence as a chance to “explore talks”.
The secretive North has not yet revealed who it intends to send as its chief delegate, though speculation is rife and analysts in Seoul believe it could be dictator’s right-hand man, Choe Ryong-hae, or his younger sister, Kim Yong-nam.
Shin Beomchul, a professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul, told Bloomberg: “If Kim Yo-jong were to come, it’ll be the first time for any Kim family member to visit South Korea.
“If the North sends a top official such as Choe Ryong Hae or Kim Yong Nam, they could at least exchange messages with Mike Pence on the sidelines.
“They could hold conversations aimed at exploring talks.”
However, there are a number of hurdles which would need to be overcome before either could speak with the Vice President – both Choe and Kim Yong-nam are under sanctions that could prevent them from even travelling to the games.
And the deal between North and South still has to be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) because the North has missed registration deadlines or failed to qualify.
But the fact that the North has started to speak with the South again, despite mounting military tensions, could indicate the pariah state is open to further talks.
And some have already dismissed the move by Kim’s regime and insisted the hermit kingdom cannot be trusted.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono said the world should not be fooled by Pyongyang’s “charm offensive”.
He said: ”It is not the time to ease pressure or to reward North Korea.
“The fact that North Korea is engaging in dialogue could be interpreted as proof that the sanctions are working.”
And US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said today Kim’s regime already knows how to contact the US if it wants to talk.
Speaking in Vancouver, Mr Tillerson warned the threat posed by the North “is growing”.
He said: “The North Koreans know our channels are open, and they know where to find us.”