OBERSTDORF, Germany — With joy in their performance — and relief for Olympic officials — two North Korean figure skaters have qualified for the 2018 Winter Games in February in South Korea.

At a competition here in Bavaria on Friday, Ryom Tae-ok, 18, and Kim Ju-sik, 25, claimed one of five available spots for pairs teams in the Olympics. They are the first athletes from North Korea to qualify for the 2018 Games.

The International Olympic Committee and South Korean organizers have said repeatedly that they had hope North Korea’s participation would lead to a peaceful Games, a sense of reconciliation and a lessening of concerns that nuclear brinkmanship would interfere with the event.