The 2018 Asian Para Games begins its eight-day run in Indonesia from Saturday.

The opening ceremony starts at 9 p.m. Korea standard time in Jakarta.

Some 38-hundred athletes from 43 nations are taking part this year.

From South Korea, 307 athletes will compete in 17 sporting events, aiming to finish third overall with 33 gold medals.

North Korea is taking part for the second time since the 2014 Incheon games held in South Korea. Twenty-three North Korean athletes will compete in three events of table tennis, swimming and track and field.

The two Koreas will again jointly march in the opening ceremony as they did in the recent Asian Games. They will also field joint teams for some competitions including table tennis.

South Korea's delegation head Jun Min-sik expressed hope that sports can contribute to the peaceful unification of the two Koreas.