A new Catholic church will open this week in Camp Bonifas, a few kilometers from the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the inter-Korean border, the Military Ordinariate of Korea said Tuesday.

The ordinariate will hold a Mass at the new church in Paju on Wednesday to mark the completion of its construction. It will replace the existing one, which was built in 1958.

With a total floor area of about 280 square meters, the building has a 15.3-meter bell tower and a symbol expressing gratitude to the 22 countries that sent troops or provided assistance for South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. (Yonhap)