North Korea's football squad has returned home from South Africa after competing in its first World Cup since 1966.

International TV news agency APTN showed footage of the players arriving Tuesday at the airport in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

North Korea lost 2-1 to Brazil, 7-0 to Portugal and 3-0 to Ivory Coast in its group matches.

Striker Jong Tae Se says "it was good to be at the World Cup" and "we as players and the people think that we should keep being enthusiastic and develop our football."

North Korea advanced to the quarterfinals at the 1966 tournament in England.

Unlike their departure for the World Cup, there were no crowds of people at the airport waiting to see the players return.

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