Pope Francis urged both leaders of North and South Korea to stop what he describes as "displays of force" and instead promote peace in the war-weary peninsula.

Francis made the remarks on Thursday during the first day of his five-day visit to Seoul, where he is expected to attend a youth forum and to beatify Korean catholic martyrs who were persecuted in the 18th and 19th century, among others.

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Addressing South Korean officials led by President Park Guen-hye, Francis said the "mutual recriminations, fruitless criticisms and displays of force" between the two Koreas should be replaced by cooperation and forgiveness in order to promote peace in the region.

He said these efforts will help not only the present situation but also the future generations.

 "I think it is especially important for us to reflect on the need to give our young people the gift of peace," he said in English, his first English speech since he assumed the papacy in 2013.

The Vatican said the Pope would deliver at least four speeches in English in his effort to reach out to a wider audience in the Asian country where only about 10 percent of population is Catholic.

His call for peace comes after North Korea fired five missiles in the waters of the Korean peninsula on Thursday. Three of the missiles were launched just an hour before the pontiff's arrival in Seoul. Pyongyang fired another two missiles immediately after his arrival.

Francis underlines the importance of ending the bitter rivalry between the two countries, which he said affects the stability of the "entire area and indeed of our whole war-weary world."

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said she is optimistic that the pope's visit may help end the division between the two countries, which is still technically at war after the Korean War ended in a truce. 

"Division has been a big scar for all Koreans," she said.

Pope Francis, the first pontiff to visit the Korean peninsula in 25 years, is scheduled to meet participants of the 6th Asian Youth Day on Friday, where thousands of young Catholics from 23 countries around the world are gathered.

He will also beatify 124 Catholic martyrs who faced persecution and death in the 18th and 19th centuries due to their devotion to their faith in time when the Korea was getting rid of other religions in the country.

Pope Francis will also preside a mass on Monday in his call for peace and reconciliation between Seoul and Pyongyang which remains deeply divided by culture, views, and politics.

The relation between the two Koreas has worsened in the past years, with North consistently test-firing missiles in considerably large numbers despite condemnation from international community, including the United Nations.

Pyongyang said its military actions were only a response to the joint military drills conducted by rival South and United States, which it labeled as "preparation for invasion."

TagsNorth Korea, Pope Francis, Seoul, Pyongyang