AKIPRESS.COM - Pope Francis has landed in South Korea, beginning his first visit to Asia since he took over the papacy in March 2013.During his trip, he will beatify Korean Catholics who died for their faith and attend a Catholic youth festival.
The South Korean Catholic Church is one of the fastest growing in the world, with just over 5.4 million members, some 10.4% of the population.
North Korea fired short-range rockets off its east coast around the time of the Pope's arrival.
It fired three rockets on Thursday morning as the pope's plane approached South Korean airspace, and another two in the afternoon, according to news agencies.
Pyongyang has engaged in several such launches in recent months in what it says is a response to US and South Korean provocations - in the latest case, a military drill due to start on Monday.