SEOUL, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Para athletes from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) returned home Thursday after participating in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics, the first ever participation by the country.

The 24-member DPRK athletic delegation, including six para athletes, crossed the inter-Korean border via land route at about 1:50 p.m. local time (0450 GMT) to go back to their home country, according to local media reports.

The DPRK sent its delegation on March 7 to PyeongChang, east of the South Korean capital Seoul, joining a Winter Paralympics for the first time.

The PyeongChang Winter Paralympics, which kicked off on March 9, is scheduled to end with a closing ceremony on Sunday.

Two DPRK sit skiers competed in the cross-country sit ski events. They finished in the bottom rankings, but the two para Nordic skiers, Ma Yu Chol and Kim Jong Hyon, were warmly welcomed by the home crowd.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in watched and cheered one of the two cross-country races, which Ma and Kim took part in.

The DPRK dispatched hundreds of athletes, cheerleaders and artists in February to the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, a sports diplomacy which improved inter-Korean relations and opened a door to the denuclearized Korean Peninsula.???