South Korean athletes, officials and journalists returned home Friday from a four-day trip to North Korea for inter-Korean basketball matches. 

The 101-member delegation led by Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon arrived at Seoul Air Base on two military planes late Friday afternoon.

The two Koreas held four matches during the friendly event while South and North Korean officials also met on the sidelines.

Minister Cho held talks with Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the North Korean Workers' Party's Central Committee on Thursday.

South Korea's Vice Sports Minister Roh Tae-kang also met with his North Korean counterpart Won Kil-u and discussed cross-border sports exchanges. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the basketball matches or appear at any other events alongside the South Korean delegation.

Kim Yong-chol told Minister Cho that Kim Jong-un could not join as he was out of town on a field inspection. 

The South Korean delegation toured an education facility in Pyongyang called the Mangyongdae School Children's Palace before returning home. 

The inter-Korean basketball event was the first of its kind in 15 years.

[Photo : YONHAP News]