Wednesday, 6 September 2017:
The threat from North Korea hangs over February's Winter Olympics but a leading Australian competitor believes there's no point worrying.
Aerial skiing Olympic medallist David Morris is preparing for the Games in South Korea as the Australian Olympic Committee weighs up the threat from Pyongyang.
Olympics location Pyeongchang is around 65km from the demilitarised zone separating South and North Korea, which successfully conducted its sixth and largest nuclear bomb test on Sunday.
Morris, who claimed silver at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, said his preparations are proceeding as normal.
"I'm not concerned at this point. The plan is to go ahead as per the schedule. My family will also be going," Morris told AAP.
"I've never considered not going. There are many seemingly dangerous places around the world and yet we continue to train and compete regardless.
"Obviously we can't pretend that things aren't happening. But at this point there's no sense in worrying about what may not happen and take energy and focus away from training."
North Korea's nuclear testing has drawn condemnation from governments in Australia, the United States and South Korea.
There is speculation the rogue nation is preparing to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Australian team chef de mission Ian Chesterman was confident the Games would go ahead.
"We take our advice from the IOC and DFAT. We have got good channels over there ...," he said.
"Everybody is planning for the Games to proceed. The Organising Committee is proceeding, the Australian Olympic Committee is proceeding, all the other Olympic teams are proceeding in the belief that it will happen.
"I think it will happen and that's the way we keep working."
Morris said he trusted the AOC to act against putting their athletes in harm's way.
"More informed decisions will be made closer to the event by those in the know and I'm certain that all precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of all athletes from every country," he said.
"There were also concerns in Sochi, and we were very aware of the police and military presence throughout the Games and at no point did I actually feel unsafe."
The Winter Olympics are held on February 9-25, preceding the Paralympics in March.
