LBCI

China blocks travel by some for South Korea papal visit - organizer

World News

14-08-2014 | 01:10

Share

Share

China blocks travel by some for South Korea papal visit - organizer

2^min

Pope Francis sent an unprecedented message of good will to China on Thursday before touching down in Seoul, but the first papal trip to Asia in 15 years got off to a shaky start with the news some Chinese had been barred from joining a youth celebration.

About half of more than 100 Chinese who had planned to attend an Asian Youth Day event during the pope's visit are unable to attend due to "a complicated situation inside China", Heo Young-yeop, spokesman for the Committee for the Papal Visit to Korea, told reporters.

He declined to give further details, citing their safety. Another organizer, who declined to be identified, said some of the would-be attendees had been arrested by Chinese authorities.

Beijing rejects Vatican authority over its Catholics.

China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comments either on the Pope's good will message or the Chinese who were barred from attending the youth event.

As the pope's plane approached South Korean airspace off the west of the peninsula, North Korea test fired three short-range rockets into the sea off its east coast, according to South Korea's defense ministry.

The test site was hundreds of kilometers away from the pope's plane. North Korea fired two more projectiles from the same location early on Thursday afternoon.

The North has tested an unprecedented number of rockets and missiles this year and has in recent weeks said the launches were in retaliation to U.S.-South Korean military exercises scheduled to start on Monday.

Pyongyang often stages such tests when rival South Korea is in the global spotlight, in what is seen as a means to grab a share of the attention.

REUTERS

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Iran says final deal still far off as Hormuz Strait shuttered

2026-04-19

Iran says final deal still far off as Hormuz Strait shuttered

Saudi Aramco helicopter crash kills 14, state new agency says

Middle East News

2026-06-28

Saudi Aramco helicopter crash kills 14, state new agency says

President Aoun highlights urgent needs of residents returning to war-damaged areas in talks with World Bank official

2026-08-10

President Aoun highlights urgent needs of residents returning to war-damaged areas in talks with World Bank official

US-Israeli strikes hit airport in southwestern Iran: State media

Middle East News

2026-04-05

US-Israeli strikes hit airport in southwestern Iran: State media

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Rain in August? Sudden weather shift surprises Lebanon: Video

1

Rain in August? Sudden weather shift surprises Lebanon: Video

Walla: Israeli military strikes Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon

2

Walla: Israeli military strikes Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon

Wanted for war crimes: Why was retired Syrian Gen. Adel Issa detained in Beirut?

3

Wanted for war crimes: Why was retired Syrian Gen. Adel Issa detained in Beirut?

Diplomacy vs. escalation: Southern Lebanon enters a critical new phase

4

Diplomacy vs. escalation: Southern Lebanon enters a critical new phase

Waste crisis or new tax? Lebanon’s environmental fee raises questions

5

Waste crisis or new tax? Lebanon’s environmental fee raises questions

Health Ministry: Seven killed, including three children and two women, in Israeli strike on Ansar

6

Health Ministry: Seven killed, including three children and two women, in Israeli strike on Ansar

Six killed, two injured in airstrike in southern Lebanon as displacement reported in Nabatieh

7

Six killed, two injured in airstrike in southern Lebanon as displacement reported in Nabatieh

PM Salam condemns Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon, calls for halt

8

PM Salam condemns Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon, calls for halt

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More