Christmas tree tensions on the Korean border

South Korea will allow Christians to light two more Christmas tree-shaped towers near the tense border with North Korea, despite strong opposition from Pyongyang.

The South Korean government allowed a Christian group to light a massive steel Christmas tree near the border last year for the first time in seven years, as tensions flared in the wake of two deadly attacks blamed on the secretive, paranoid regime of Kim Jong-il.

That tree will be lit again this month, while South Korea has also decided to allow two other front-line Christmas trees, a defence ministry official said, adding the move was meant to help guarantee freedom of religion.

North Korea’s website said yesterday that lighting the first tree was a form of psychological warfare and would trigger an “unexpected consequence”.