The United Nations has approved South Korea's request to lift a travel ban on a North Korean official for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.<br />North Korea had included the official's name to their Olympic delegation on Tuesday.<br />We have on the line with us Kwon Jang-ho, at Seoul's foreign ministry, who has the latest details.<br />Jang-ho, it seems this was a very quick decision?<br /><br /> Yes, that's right Mark.<br />South Korea had only formally sent a request to the UN Security Council a few hours ago.<br />The UNSC's North Korea sanctions committee had until Thursday afternoon to make a decision, but it seems they wanted to give a quick approval.<br /> The official in question is Choe Hwi.<br />Choe is the chairman of Pyongyang's National Sports Guidance Committee... but also headed the regime's propaganda department previously.<br />He had been on a UN sanctions blacklist since June last year, which froze his overseas assets and prohibited him from traveling.<br /><br /> Seoul had asked the UN to allow the entire North Korean delegation to come, saying that it will, quote, "serve as a timely opportunity to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula and beyond."<br />There seems to have been help from the U.S. with State Department spokesperson Katina Adams telling Radio Free Asia earlier that they would help gain approval.<br /> That comes despite Washington repeatedly saying that they will continue to put pressure on the regime. <br />But Adams expressed they understand Seoul's situation and as allies that they would help cooperate.<br />The full North Korean delegation now have the greenlight to come to the South, and they will be arriving on Friday, just in time for the opening ceremony.<br />Back to you, Mark. <br />
