Kim travelled here to host a dinner for the 14 members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission, who spent another day inpsecting Pyeongchang's bid.

The dinner was also attended by several South Korean Ministers, including Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug and Lee Kun-hee, an IOC member and chairman of Samsung Electronics.

Tomorrow, the last day of the IOC Evaluation, Kim will make a presentation on security and safety, and explain the South Korean Government's effort and preparation for the bid.

South Korea's troubled relationship with North Korea is certain to be high on the agenda of that presentation especially as before travelling here Kim had attended a major meeting in the capital Seoul to discuss what action they needed to take to defend themsleves amid rising tension with Pyongyang. 

"Taking into consideration the situation North Korea is in now, there is a possibility for more armed provocations by the North, so we must be perfectly prepared," he had said.

"Only solidified security can guarantee survival and a prosperous future."

But Kim insisted that if Pyeongchang - which is located only 50 kilometres from the North Korea border - were awarded the Games then it would help accelerate the chances of peace.

"When I was on my way here I was thinking about the message of the Olympic Movement which holds the world together regardless of race, religion and politics," he said.

"In Korea we believe that bringing the 2018 Games to Pyeongchang would not only help promote winter sport here but improve relations on the Korean Peninsula and thus help promote peace and prosperity throughout the region."

Kim also told insidethegames that he would back a proposal for the two Koreas to compete under one flag.

"It is too early to say but if it is something that would help bring peace and prosperity then, yes, of course, I would support such a plan," he said.

Earlier, Park Won-ho, a professor in political science at Seoul National University, had explained to the Evaluation Commission that hosting the Games will help bring political and economic stability.

Asked about tensions between North and South Korea before his presentation, Park said that the tensions should not affect Pyeongchang's bid, claiming that "it has been on-going for the past 60 years while Korea hosted various international events".

Park also claimed that 91 per cent of the people in the country support Pyeongchang's bid, and 93 per cent of the residents of Gangwon Province back the project.

"We have enough support from the Government," he said.

"President Lee Myung-bak paid a visit here to see the IOC Evaluation team.

"That shows Pyeongchang's 2018 Olympic is on top of the national agenda."



After hearing his presentation, the Evaluation Commission travelled to Gangneung, the coastal city on the East Sea, where five ice stadiums for speed skating, figure skating and short track, curling and ice hockey will be located.

Although the IOC team could only see the curling venue at the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink as the rest will be built if the city wins the bid, the Bid Committee provided presentations at each of the proposed venues.

Yang Ho Cho, the chief executive and chairman of Pyeongchang 2018, said: "We are pleased to show the IOC Evaluation Commission the investment we have made to build new sports facilities such as the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink.

"It highlights PyeongChang's commitment to staging the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018, and that we are delivering on our promises to the IOC and the Olympic Family.

"This investment will also provide us with the momentum to inspire more young people to participate in new disciplines, help develop their skills, and grow interest in winter sports in new areas of the world."

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