An official from the South Korean Sports Ministry has denied suggestions the country could share a bobsleigh with North Korea at next month's Winter Olympic Games ©Getty Images

An official from the South Korean Sports Ministry has denied suggestions the country could share a bobsleigh with North Korea at next month's Winter Olympic Games, claiming a joint women's ice hockey team is the only sporting proposal on the table for the event in Pyeongchang.

It had been reported that the two nations, who held further talks to discuss North Korea's participation at the Games today, could come together to test the bobsleigh conditions prior to competition in a joint four-man sled.

Other reports claimed North Korea and South Korea could compete side-by-side in figure skating after Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon proposed it as a possibility.

The Sports Ministry official, who spoke to South Korean news agency Yonhap on the condition of anonymity, has dismissed the claims, however.

"We've never considered the idea in those two sports, and we never will," the unnamed official said.

Talks that took place between the two countries today are thought to have focused on North Korea's plan to send an art troupe to the Games.

Further talks are expected to be held in Panmunjeom, located in the demilitarised zone which is also known as the Joint Security Area, this week.

South Korea's Vice Sports Minister Roh Tae-kang has already confirmed the country has proposed a combined ice hockey team and a joint parade at the Opening Ceremony of Pyeongchang 2018.

KSOC head Lee Kee-heung will propose holding regular sports exchanges with North Korea when the two countries take part in a meeting in Lausanne ©Getty Images
KSOC head Lee Kee-heung will propose holding regular sports exchanges with North Korea when the two countries take part in a meeting in Lausanne ©Getty Images

insidethegames exclusively revealed last week that a joint Korean ice hockey team was among the motions due to be discussed at a four-party meeting on North Korea's participation at the Winter Olympics on Saturday (January 20).

Roh then insisted the presence of North Korean players in the squad would not "come at the expense of South Korean players".

According to Yonhap, the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) are hoping to expand their squad size from 23 to 35 to accommodate athletes from North Korea.

Roh said they were seeking further cooperation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation to increase the squad size.

He added that they had sought understanding from the other countries who are due to participate in the women's ice hockey tournament.

The issue is among those due to be discussed at the four-party meeting, to be chaired by IOC President Thomas Bach, in Lausanne on Saturday.

The KSOC are also set to propose holding regular sports exchanges with North Korea when representatives from the two countries meet in the Swiss city.

KSOC head Lee Kee-heung has suggested the nations open a communication channel between the two sporting bodies, adding they should resume inter-Korean friendly football matches.

Lee has also reportedly proposed meetings with the North Korean Olympic Committee at Pyeongchang 2018.