South Korea Christmas Tree Challenges Northern Threats (PHOTOS)

South Korea is bracing for a possible backlash to what some might find a fairly harmless attempt at spreading holiday cheer, after erecting a stylized Christmas tree near the demilitarized zone that separates the country from North Korea, the Wall Street Journal is reporting.

The giant 100-foot-tall tree, which reportedly can be seen from the North Korean city of Kaesong, had been a yuletide tradition until 2004, when both countries agreed to halt cross-border propaganda. According to BusinessWeek, North Korea demanded the display be dismantled after dismissing the tree as an effort to spread religion.

On hand for Tuesday's lighting ceremony at a military-controlled hill called Aegibong were the Seoul-based Yeouido Full Gospel Church, which had planned a program of traditional carols. But while the South may be challenging the North's omnipresent threats with holiday cheer, security remains a huge concern. "Marines are maintaining the highest level of alertness around the hill," a defence ministry spokesman was quoted by the AFP as saying.

See photos of the controversial Christmas tree below:

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whatsthatsound said on 22 Wednesday 2010 am31 2:32 am: It's not a "Christmas tree". It's a pole with streamers extend downwards to create a triangle. It's an electric light triangle.

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Comments

[Cryn]

04:22 AM on 12/22/2010

Just great. I'm glad I'm so close to the North Korean border. Way to go, South Korea.

[Sans Octavian]

02:43 AM on 12/22/2010

Oh no - someone used the word "Christmas". Apolgize!

[whatsthatsound]

02:36 AM on 12/22/2010

Anti-religious atheists are Pavlovian.
Bark, bark! Religion poisons everything! Bark! causes every bad thing in the world! Bark!
Science! Arf!

[bridge to somewhere]

10:50 AM on 12/23/2010

Religion works for some, and does not work for others. It's when one religious sect decides that it deserves to set the national discourse that I take issue. Slapping your label on Atheists achieves nothing.

[Broderick Crawford]

11:19 AM on 12/23/2010

It's ok to be athiest since you have free-will. You can do anything you want.

[whatsthatsound]

04:49 PM on 12/23/2010

I'm not slapping labels. I have no problem at all with atheism. I am talking about those who actually describe themselves, or reveal themselves to be, "anti-religious". There is decidedly a sub-group of atheists, emboldened by Hitchens, Dawkins, Coyne, etc., who go out of their ways to attack religion.

[whatsthatsound]

02:32 AM on 12/22/2010

It's not a "Christmas tree". It's a pole with streamers extend downwards to create a triangle.
It's an electric light triangle.

[Cryn]

04:23 AM on 12/22/2010

But here - in South Korea - that's a Christmas tree.

[bridge to somewhere]

10:48 AM on 12/23/2010

Because Jesus d!ed on an electric light triangle, yes? Oh, no that was the grounds keeper...Jesus.

[ramal]

01:46 AM on 12/22/2010

The North Koreans should retaliate by erecting a great neon statue of "Dear Leader" on their side of the DMZ. Tit for tat. One nation's religon silently vs. a religion of the other nation. No bombs, no bullets. No lifes lost.

[Felicity Backman]

04:24 PM on 12/23/2010

Except for one thing: Dear Leader is likely to shoot his people in the head for daring to LOOK at the tree with the cross on top. Love, forgiveness, comfort, joy, peace, freedom - vs murdering hatred. One religion vs another, right. CHOICE is the key word here, friend.

[DanoX]

12:23 AM on 12/22/2010

There are zero North Korean civialians within miles of the DMZ to even see it. Just a handful of hardcore gaurds. Waste of electricity and time. But hey, if it makes them feel like they are "doing" something, more power to em' i guess.

[bayonet division]

02:31 AM on 12/22/2010

They're mocking them with their virile and ample electricity. "See this?! We have SO much electricity, we can waste it to mock you! We don't even hesitate to do so!" It's like that.

[DanoX]

01:49 AM on 01/06/2011

HA! Pretty damn good for an infantry man! LOL!

[tora]

12:04 AM on 12/22/2010

Big time Born Agains are common in S Korea and let's face it, God - even it means war.

[Talossa]

02:18 AM on 12/22/2010

Yep, the artillery attack on the island sure showed that it's the "Born Agains" that are itching for war in Korea.

[Gbox]

10:41 PM on 12/22/2010

You should consider starting a Neville Chamberlain society. I bet you could sign up about 500 members just from your fellow posters.

[Molly Clarke]

12:02 AM on 12/22/2010

Why do something that could be seen as a deliberate provocation? First the persistent drills, now this. I'm all for non-appeasement but this is starting to seem a bit irresponsible. It's as though S. Korea is hoping to get a reaction from the North, so that it can bite back.

[celere]

11:50 PM on 12/21/2010

I'm wondering if Bradley Manning's treatment is intended as a warning to anyone who cooperates with Assange.

[celere]

11:53 PM on 12/21/2010

Sorry, wrong thread!

[bayonet division]

12:07 AM on 12/22/2010

More likely it is intended as a warning to anyone that chooses to disobey direct orders and compromises the oath they took when they joined the military. That's how UCMJ works.

[Cougar29]

10:17 PM on 12/21/2010

I think we secular progreesives, Dems, commies, and christian h8'rs will stand with Kim Jong Il on this one..

[celere]

11:51 PM on 12/21/2010

What garbage.

[whatsthatsound]

02:33 AM on 12/22/2010

I know. Real class, huh?

[Madbunny]

08:45 PM on 12/21/2010

An good old fashioned war on Christmas. Not trying to stop Christmas, mind you, ACTUAL war, on Christmas.

Personally I think they might as well erect a giant dong, or a 100 foot high middle finger for all the cheer this tree will spread. Actually thinking about it, that would be pretty awesome too.

[Talossa]

02:17 AM on 12/22/2010

It's called the Tower of Juche Idea. Google it...

[Madbunny]

03:47 AM on 12/22/2010

Thank you for that, much appreciated.

[The Scientist]

07:41 PM on 12/21/2010

S. Korea has huge tariffs on American-made goods. Would not allow ANY US or Japanese vehicles sold in their country before 1986, and funded their post-Korean war economy with the wholesale trafficking of their own orphaned children to the West. This went on well into the 60s.

Much as we understandably cannot tolerate N.Korea, S. Korea was, is and remains a questionable friend to the US. This despite the fact that we have sent hundreds of thousands of US service people to guard their country since the end of Korean war.

[ykk9]

08:08 PM on 12/21/2010

1986 was a long time ago, I was just there three weeks ago and the trendiest car for the wealthy is a Cadillac.

[The Scientist]

08:08 AM on 12/22/2010

B.S.

Last year less than 5,000 total US vehicles were sold in S. Korea. That's less than what Hyundai/Kia sells in a week in the US.

[GinghamQuaker]

08:40 PM on 12/21/2010

I second ykk, that's a long time ago. South Korea is a strong ally.

[The Scientist]

08:07 AM on 12/22/2010

1986 was a long time ago only if you're 18.

Shaddup, junior.

[Pauline Jaing]

06:05 PM on 12/21/2010

Why don't you just come right out and say it:; don't cushion your own thoughts with what you define as the thoughts of liberals! Just say what YOU think, which is:

"Oh how sweet, we are once again Christianizeing the natives! Christianity is such a superior religion, Just look at those former godless Buddhists embracing the one true faith!"

[Felicity Backman]

04:44 PM on 12/23/2010

Um...did you just admonish others not to tell you what you think by telling others what they think? Have you ever looked up the word "hypocrite"? might wanna have a look at your Webster's....

And have some compassion, could you? Christianity is the only religion of all time whose God claims to be the one and only God, the only TRUE God, and the God who came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ., who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven in full view of the apostles....so what's a Christian to say? The persecution for saying it comes with the territory, but it's worth it, because KNOWING the One True God personally trumps anything life on earth will ever have to offer.

[Nerdiac]

05:53 PM on 12/21/2010

Good for you SKor. As sick as I am of NorKor, I was almost just as sick of SKor's kowtowing and pussyfooting. I'm not itching for WWIII or anything, but at some point the skin on your face is going to get blistered from being slapped repeatedly.

[GinghamQuaker]

08:41 PM on 12/21/2010

Agreed.

[Felicity Backman]

04:49 PM on 12/23/2010

I'm just checking to see if my comments are being held back for any specific reason. Posting this to see what happens.

[Felicity Backman]

04:50 PM on 12/23/2010

Hmm... apparently, only my posts that mention a certain person born at this time of year two millenia ago are being held back by the Huff folks. If I keep him out of it, they seem happy. Let's see if this one passes...

[Madbunny]

08:48 PM on 12/21/2010

You might want to read up on S. Korea, or better yet talk to some vets stationed there. Their army is pretty hardcore.

If I had to guess I'd say they're ready to go round the clock, it's the rest of the world that doesn't want war to break out. The North and South have some pretty bloody little skirmishes now and then.

[cliffsiderock]

05:15 PM on 12/21/2010

How many times! A Cross is for appropriate for Easter and not for Christmas! Could someone please translate for those asians the stories behind the two holidays and the proper symbolism?

By the way, the South should have 5 trees at the border with the third and middle one being the tallest.

[BluePlanetEarth]

05:47 PM on 12/21/2010

By the way, the South should have 5 trees at the border with the third and middle one being the tallest. .

LOL... Nice one... :))