From the BBC, droll as always:
North Korea has warned South Korea of "unexpected consequences" if it lights up a Christmas tree-shaped tower near their tense border. The North's state-run Uriminjokkiri website said it would amount to a form of "psychological warfare".
Seoul's annual tradition of lighting up a Christmas tree tower was suspended in 2003 following a warming of ties. However, the South lit a tower last year as relations deteriorated between the neighbours.
The Associated Press quotes a defence ministry official as saying the South has agreed to allow Christian groups to light a further two towers this year.
Only frightened thugs react in this manner to a Christmas tree. That being the case, OS proposes the South Koreans and the US proceed to put the afterburners to the Christmas spirit:
We've got every square inch of North Korea mapped--every hill, hamlet, fishing village and farm. Let's put up Christmas trees and mongo-sized creches within sight of any and all on the border, and on the SK-controlled islands as well. Then, let's turn those lights on, and play Christmas carols from dusk til dawn. Don't have to fire a shot--Christmas trees are a lot cheaper than artillery shells and choppers. Let's spread some hope and cheer, and cut the legs out from under those criminals in Pyongyang.
It sounds like the NKs have an incipient Christianity problem--strange how the gospel manages to take root in those dark corners, and little churches spring up like weeds under the feet of the despots.
Reminds one of the story of a baby born in a barn all those years ago, right under the noses of the Romans...
They also have a grinding and obvious poverty problem...this is a satellite shot of the region, taken at night a few years back. That's Japan on the right, Manchuria and China at the top and, South Korea at bottom left, and that black hole in the middle is, well, North Korea--Worker's Paradise.
