South Korea yesterday welcomed North Korea's decision to attend the Olympic Games in Atlanta, but said there was no chance of forming a united Korean team at such short notice.

Kim Un Yong, head of South Korea's national Olympic committee, said he would approach International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch and other sports leaders to press for North Korea to be allowed into as many events as possible.

But Seoul will make no effort to form a single Korean team, Deputy Culture and Sports Minister Choc Chang Jin said yesterday.