South Korea rejects 'Pyongyang Olympics' criticism

Volunteers for the upcoming 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games walk in Pyeongchang, South Korea, January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

SEOUL (Reuters) - The South Korean government rejected criticism on Tuesday that next month's Winter Olympics had been hijacked by North Korea, saying the Games will help defuse tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.

Some opposition politicians and conservatives in South Korea have criticised North Korea's participation in the Games to be held in the South Korean alpine resort of Pyeongchang, dubbing them the "Pyongyang Olympics".