The idea of moving the sliding events to Nagano had been raised during the International Olympic Committee Session in Monte Carlo last week, while more than 100 civic groups in South Korea had approached the Government with the idea of sharing the Games with their bitter rivals in the North.

The Dhangoon National Peace and Unification Council, representing some 120 civic groups, had claimed it would help the "nation to overcome 70 years of division and the Cold War and open the door for unification".

Choson Sinbo, North Korea's mouthpiece newspaper published in Japan, had last week put forward the newly-opened $35 million (£21 million/€26 million) Masikryong ski resort be used to co-host some events, claiming it would contribute to peace in the region.

North Korea has put forward its newly-opened Masikryong ski resort as a possible venue to host events during the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics ©Getty Images

But Park has firmly rejected both proposals despite the idea of more than one country hosting the Olympics having been given the go-ahead by the IOC after the adoption of Agenda 2020. 

"We got to host the Games with difficulty on our third bid and construction of each stadium is already under way," said Park following a meeting at the Cheong Wa Dae, the Blue House, her official residence.  

"Given this, it is meaningless to discuss splitting [the events] and relevant Ministries should respond to the IOC with clear and persuasive logic.

"As there isn't much time to prepare for the Games, pending issues must be settled quickly and outstanding preparation tasks must be handled swiftly and steadily."

Park's stance backs that of Cho Yang-ho, the President of Pyeongchang 2018, who last Friday (December 12) had claimed there were no plans to move any events.

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