Concerns North Korea Could Disrupt Olympics.
HOWELL: Welcome back to NEWSROOM. A senior United Nations diplomat is wrapping up a rare trip to North Korea. Jeffrey Feltman was in that country for five days and met with North Korean officials there.</s>ALLEN: State media there blamed what they called nuclear blackmail by the United States for rising tensions but also said North Korea wants to ease those tensions. No word yet from the U.N. on what was discussed. The last time a senior U.N. official visited North Korea was in 2010. Meanwhile, in South Korea, the countdown is on. We are only weeks away from the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games.</s>HOWELL: Even though the games are being held in South Korea, the North still looms large on the horizon for many. But the South says don't worry, everything is going to be OK. Our Paula Hancocks has more on that story.</s>PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the Olympic torch makes its way around South Korea, problems are mounting for these Winter Games.</s>THOMAS BACH, IOC CHAIRMAN: The Russian Olympic Committee is suspended with immediate effect.</s>HANCOCKS (voice-over): One of the world's major winter sports powers is out. The IOC banning Russia for systematic manipulation of anti- doping rules. And there's another major country wavering. U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley was asked by FOX News if U.S. attendance was set in stone.</s>NIKKI HALEY, U.S.  AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: There's an open question. I have not heard anything about that. But I do know that, in the talks that we have, whether it's Jerusalem, whether it's North Korea, it's always about how do we protect the U.S. citizens in the area?</s>HANCOCKS (voice-over): Clarification from the --</s>HANCOCKS (voice-over): -- White House later in the day, press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeting, "The U.S. looks forward to participating in the Winter Olympics in South Korea." For South Korea, there is no plan B. Officials say North Korea, just 50 miles or 80 kilometers away from PyeongChang, these were the preparations transforming the area outside the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. For South Korea, there is no plan B. Officials say North Korea, just 50 miles or 80 kilometers away from PyeongChang, does not pose a risk, referring to previous sporting events they have successfully held, including the Summer Olympics in Seoul in 1988. These were the final preparations in PyeongChang a few weeks ago, transforming the area outside the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. Park Seung-hei is the site manager. "Personally, I don't think you need to worry," he tells me. "No one around here is talking about North Korea." Ham Young-man has sold jewelry in the area for 40 years. He also dismisses security concerns. "The slogan for the games is the peace Olympics. I believe tensions will ease and people from many countries will take part." Confident voices in the region that stands to lose the most if visitors stay away. Two months out and lagging ticket sales enjoyed a boost from 100-day events and the torch relay. Fifty-four percent is being sold as of November, slightly better than the Winter Games in Sochi four years ago. But organizers now have to contend not only with tourists put off by North Korea, but the likely loss of many Russian spectators if there's no national team to cheer on -- Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.</s>ALLEN: Looking forward to the Olympics. A little break from the news. Thanks for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Natalie Allen.</s>HOWELL: And I'm George Howell. NEWSROOM is back after the break. We leave you, though, with these images of a rare sight in Atlanta, hey, not like South Korea but we've got snow, too. We'll be right back after the break.