The 2012 London Paralympics will kick off at 8 p.m. on Wednesday (local time) and conclude on Sept. 9.

Korea has sent 149 athletes and officials in 13 sports, and aims to win 10 to 11 gold medals, similar to its achievement four years ago in Beijing, when it won 10 gold, eight silver and 13 bronze medals.

Korea hopes to win at least two gold medals in each of the following sports: shooting, archery, and table tennis.

In this photo taken on Monday, North Korea's Rim Ju-song (center) sits in his wheelchair during the team's welcoming ceremony at the 2012 London Paralympics in London. /AP

Meanwhile, North Korea is making its first appearance at the quadrennial event. Twenty-four members of the North Korean team officially entered the Athletes' Village in the Olympic Park on Monday.

Teen swimmer Rim Ju-song, who will compete in the men’s 50-m freestyle, is the only athlete, while the other 23 people who make up the delegation are staff, officials and reporters.