The first 10 North Korean athletes have checked into their living quarters for the upcoming Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, watched closely by both South Korean security guards and agents embedded into Pyongyang’s delegation.

Accompanied by 22 government officials, including Won Kil-u, North Korea’s vice minister of sport, the delegation arrived aboard a South Korean chartered aircraft at Yangyang International Airport on Thursday before travelling a further 30 miles to the Gangneung Olympic Village, Yonhap news reported.

The 10 athletes – three alpine skiers, three cross-country skiers, two figure skaters and two short track speed skaters – ignored intense media coverage of their arrival and only one spoke to reporters.

Ryom Tae-ok, a 19-year-old figure skater, smiled at photographers but would only say, “I don’t talk before competitions”, before adding. “It’s cold here”.

A further 12 North Korean women who are competing with players from the South in a unified Korean ice hockey team are expected to move into the accommodation shortly before the official opening ceremony for the Games on February 9.