The International Olympic Committee is not ruling out a proposed joint Korean team at next year's Pyeongchang Olympics nor North Korea's hosting a piece of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

"Every time the games can play a role, a positive role of this nature, we cannot shut the door," the Olympic Games' executive director Christophe Dubi said in an interview with Kyodo News on Thursday.

"We are not speaking about must or not must, we are speaking about opportunities. If the games can create these opportunities, let's seize them."

In an attempt to thaw relations between the two nations, South Korean officials, President Moon Jae In among them, have extended an olive branch to North Korea with ideas of a joint team at Pyeongchang and North Korea co-hosting some events of the games in February.

Dubi, the IOC's chief technical expert on games organization, said a full evaluation has yet to be made on North Korea's level of participation at Pyeongchang.

An IOC team, including Dubi and President Thomas Bach, will head to South Korea from Thursday to hold meetings through Tuesday, during which the dissection will begin.

"The matter currently has not been looked into in detail," Dubi said. "These are expression of ideas that we have been made aware of. No detailed discussions have taken place or no evaluation at this point in time."

"These are expressions of interests for the Koreans of the whole peninsula to collaborate at that point in time. Of course some of the conversation will revolve around the ideas that have been floated because we've heard many comments made by different people."

"What we want is a full understanding of what is being proposed and whether at this point in time some studies were made or not. As far as the IOC is concerned, we are looking for additional information which will be provided in the next few days."

Bach arrived in Seoul on Thursday, when he supported South Korea's attempt to engage in dialogue with its neighbor.

"We noted with great appreciation the initiative and the speech made by President Moon on the opening of the taekwondo world championships," Bach said.

"I am looking forward to discussing all these issues with President Moon immediately after his return from his talks in Washington."

Dubi spoke on the second day of meetings by the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

As outlined a day earlier by the commission's chair and IOC vice president John Coates, Dubi hailed Tokyo's striking plan to open up to the general public -- free of charge -- the competition venues of the new urban sports like skateboarding and sport climbing during the actual Olympic period. Surfing is another sport that could be looked into, Dubi said.

It would be the first time the public will be allowed to use the Olympic venues while the games are in progress.

"The concept would be the following...imagine you are going into an Olympic Park, you have the field of play that is accessible so you come with your skateboard or your sport climbing equipment," Dubi said.

"We could decide that because there is no competition until six at night, we go to the urban park and be able to enjoy the field of play. Once you're in, you can then go on the field of play."

"How fantastic would that be?"

A total of 339 events, including 18 from the five sports being added for Tokyo, will be held in 2020.

While Tokyo Olympic organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori said he had "doubts" about the number of events being too many, Dubi said it will not be an extra burden on the hosts and would not add to costs, which has been a constant thorn in the side for organizers.

"It's not adding pressure on the organizing committee. No concern at all," Dubi said. "It is good use of existing venues. You are operating venues that are already in place so you give yourself extra ticket sales through these additional events and sessions."