Set to coincide with day 1 of Pope Francis visit, Thursday's apparent test firing of rockets from North Korea off its eastern coast made the mysterious country's presence known yet again.
North Korea tested and fired three projectiles into the sea east of the Korean peninsula. The first test was fired an hour before the Pope landed in South Korea's capital, Seoul.
There has to be renewed efforts to forge peace on Korean Peninsula and both sides have to avoid "fruitless" criticisms and shows of force. This was the message that Pope Francis called out in a speech opening a five-day visit to South Korea even as North Korea fired five projectiles into the sea.
The historic visit marked the first Papal visit in 25 years. It is viewed also as "a nod to Catholicism's shifting demographics," CNN reported.
Compared to its slow growth in Europe, Catholicism, in recent times, has been gaining increasing number of believers in regions like Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Lionel Jensen, an associate professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University Of Notre Dame, believes the Pope's South Korea visit as "the first part of a very intelligent opening to Asia", the CNN quoted.
"The Pope's presence is a powerful symbol of the Vatican's recognition that it is in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa that the church is growing most prominently," Jensen added.
In his five day visit, the Pope is slated to beatify 124 Korean martyrs. Pope Francis will also take part in the 6th Asian Youth Day, a gathering of Asian Catholic youth. The Pope is also set to hold Holy Mass for Peace and Reconciliation.
Speaking before a media conference, South Korea's President, Geun-Hye Park, said she hoped the Pope's presence would heal the Korean Peninsula's "long wounds of division." Park was referring to the 1950-53 Korean War, which divided the nation into North and South Korea.
"Division has been a big scar for all Koreans," Park said.
