Faith

North Korea Warns of ‘Consequences’ as South Korean Evangelicals Erect Christmas Tree Displays Near Border

North Korea Threatens Shouth Korea Over Aegibong Christmas Display

The U.S. has, for years now, been experiencing the effects of political correctness, often manifesting itself most noticeably at Christmastime — from nativity scenes and Christmas trees being banned in certain public and private arenas, to wiping the word “Christmas” from holiday party invitations, carols, and well-wishes in the workplace. Many Americans consider this assault on the Yuletide a “war on Christmas,” and while those who celebrate the season have cause for upset here in the U.S., abroad, in North Korea, the war on Christmas is taking on a whole new meaning.

According to CNSNews, the religious freedom advocacy group Open Doors estimates that there are roughly 400,000 Christian believers in North Korea, and that 50,000-70,000 of them are interned in labor camps. To reach out and provide a beacon of hope for those worshippers oppressed in the Stalinist-ruled North, Evangelicals at Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea have erected giant, illuminated steel Christmas “trees” — complete with stars, snowflakes and topped by crosses — near the North and South Korea border.

“This is a ceremony for peace on the Korean peninsula and national unity,” church representative Tak Sejin was quoted as saying in Stars and Stripes. “We are doing this with the expectation that someday our people can become one.”

The Christmas tree displays are seen as an affront by the atheist-avowing North Korea, however, and thus threats have been made against South Koreans by the regime:

From CNSNews:

North Korea on Sunday made unspecified threats against plans by Christians in the South to illuminate giant steel Christmas “trees” near the world’s most heavily armed border, warning of “unexpected consequences” resulting from what the Stalinist regime views as a propaganda stunt.

The South Korean government has given permission for evangelical groups to light three of the structures for 15 days, beginning just before Christmas, in locations where they will potentially be seen by hundreds of thousands of North Koreans.

One of them, on a high point called Aegibong hill near the western end of the 160 mile-long border, will be within viewing distance of Kaesong, a North Korean city with a population of more than 300,000. The other two will be placed on observation platforms along the border further to the east. [...]

Pyongyang objects both to the religious symbolism, and the implicit display of prosperity visible to citizens of a country where electricity supplies are rationed and power outages – usually blamed on America – are daily occurrences.

“The aim of the conservatives is to provoke us and step up anti-republic psychological warfare through the gambit of lighting the tower,” Pyongyang’s “Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea” Web site said in a bulletin Sunday.

“If the gambit leads to unpredictable results, all responsibilities will be laid on the warmongers of the puppet regime,” it added.

CNS explains that last year was the first time the Aegibong structure had been lit since 2004:

At the time South Korea’s liberal President Roh Moo-hyun was pursuing his predecessor’s “sunshine” policy of rapprochement with the Kim Jong-il regime, a program which many South Korean conservatives viewed as little more than a series of unreciprocated concessions.

During summit talks that year, the two governments agreed to halt activities, which for years had included anti-regime broadcasting and the dropping of leaflets – usually by non-governmental organizations in the South. Some groups had floated small radio receivers over the border by balloon, and reports from North Korean refugees later spoke of how important the smuggled radios had been. For many, listening to programs about the outside world had provided the incentive to make an escape bid, they said. [...]

The official ban on the Christmas lights ended in 2010, after North Korea launched a deadly artillery attack on a South Korean island, the first direct shelling of its kind since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

CNS points out that even though North Korea did not make good on any of its threats over the Aegibong Christmas tree last year, South Korea’s Defense Ministry will be stepping up security in the vicinity of each Christmas display.

North Korea is a country regarded by many religious freedom advocates as the world’s worst place to be Christian.

Comments (49)

1 2
  • gonetotheright
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:14am

    North Korea is an example of bad leadership. We must stop bad leadership in the USA before we become the next socialist state!

    Report Post »  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:45pm

      Bad is an understatement. It is example of evil lunacy. People are starved and oppressed all the while a very few political and military elite live like kings off of the backs of the poor population. Complicit in this is China that has done little to change the situation.

      Report Post » watchtheotherhand  
    • rangerp
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 8:17pm

      so Communist North Koreans have a commonality with typical liberal athiest democrats in America. They both hate Christmas.

      Report Post » rangerp  
  • NOTAMUSHROOM
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 9:16am

    “North Korea is a country regarded by many religious freedom advocates as the world’s worst place to be Christian.”

    Seriously? Does anywhere in the Middle East besides Israel or Dearbornistan, Michigan come to mind?

    Report Post »  
    • ocean1994
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 2:21pm

      research DPRK, it is much better to be a christian in the middle east than DPRK.

      Report Post » ocean1994  
    • A Conservatarian
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 2:42pm

      Yeah, I’d be christian in Dearborn way before North Korea. They worship Dear Leader there, not a perverted twist of Judaism/Christianity. Dearborn would just want to tax you for not being like them, possibly take some punitive measures. In North Korea? You’re toast, 100%.

      Report Post » A Conservatarian  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 7:49am

    Let me see, if the Progressives had left General Douglas MacArthur alone in 1950-1952 we would not be in the situation we are in today! Is it to late to revive the General’s plan?

    Report Post »  
  • Ron Staiger
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 7:41am

    Yeah- N Korea threatened to drop thousands of “Holiday Cards” on S Korea.

    Report Post »  
  • flipper1073
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 6:58am

    Why do all Communist Hate CHRISTMAS TREES

    Report Post » flipper1073  
    • Continental Patriot
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 7:45am

      They hate Christmas trees because they hate religion (except Islam), it’s symbols, and the freedom to practice it. Communism relies on the people remaining totally dependent on the government to tell them what to do and how to behave. Religion and Catholicism especially teach people how to be better people and members of a community. In the end, it teaches a person what is morally wrong. Communism relies on bad or non-existent morals to keep the people in line and the government in power and in control. In the name of equality, communism sure involves the theft of a lot of freedoms.

      Every time you hear an atheist scream about someone openly professing/displaying their faith, simply watch the other hand.

      Report Post » Continental Patriot  
  • Quiche Lorraine
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 3:07am

    Jokes aside, say a prayer for the long suffering folks in North Korea. They
    have it so very bad. The constant balloon floating is not a half bad idea. At
    least they’ll know the real world is still thinking about them. Hope…

    Report Post »  
    • bullcrapbuster
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 3:17am

      So true. It must be a blessing to some of those terribly oppressed people to be able to see those Christmas lights and the cross.

      Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
  • bullcrapbuster
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 2:42am

    @YOUR SENSEI…..are you an owspos??

    Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
  • DYNA
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 1:29am

    @YOUR SENSEI

    Your words are like those of satan, the accuser of the brothers and sisters of Jesus, the sons and daughters of God.

    A question for you. Has Jesus, the Christ (the Anointed One ), sent by God, become man and come in the flesh?

    Report Post »  
  • ChristinaP55
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:49am

    God bless the South Korean Christians; I pray those displays give the North Koreans who see them a little bit of hope.

    Report Post »  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:37am

    Why doesn’t someone use lasers to create a tree-like image like they did for the towers. That thing could project 1000 feet high and probably be seen all over N. Korea.

    Report Post » Al J Zira  
  • UpstateNYConservative
    Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:31am

    Why don’t we offer the Norks a deal: For every Christian they release to the South, we’ll send them two America-hating liberals–starting with Hollywood leftists and the OWS crowd.

    Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
  • your sensei
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:47pm

    Someone must immediately go over to North Korea and erect an erection in the shape of a Christmas tree INSIDE North Korea. it’s the only way Jesus will be properly represented in that country that needs him so very desperately. I’d send Tim Tebow, but he‘s busy doing God’s work right here in football country, So we need somebody else to step up. Volunteers? Who‘s gonna do God’s work? Anybody? . . . Hello? . . . I have to say, I’m disappointed. I thought you were all good and courageous Christians. is faith so fleeting, is love for God so shallow that you’re not willing to save millions of his children from the heathen future of Kim Jung Il?

    Please, someone step up and be a little bit of Jesus in this Christmas season. I’d do it, but you know, I‘ve got a bad back and besides I’ve already scheduled my two weeks vacation to go to Texas for Glenn’s Big Restoring Love Rally. So it’s gotta be one or the other – Glenn or Jesus. Can’t have both.

    Report Post » your sensei  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:31am

      You sir, are an ass!

      Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • DYNA
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 1:33am

      @YOUR SENSEI

      Your words are like those of satan, the accuser of the brothers and sisters of Jesus, the sons and daughters of God.

      A question for you. Has Jesus, the Christ (the Anointed One ), sent by God, become man and come in the flesh?

      Report Post »  
    • itsmyfirstday
      Posted on December 13, 2011 at 7:46am

      I’ll pray for you and the oppressed people of North Korea…

      Report Post » itsmyfirstday  
    • BULLDOG98
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:58pm

      @your sensei
      before condemning others for being cowards and faithless, if you have scheduled your next 2 weeks, i also assume many others have scheduled their 2 weeks. i would rather erect a cross than a christmas tree

      Report Post »  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:04pm

    Let the North boil. They’ve continued in their misadventure for so long that this signal should burn their eyes and twist their arteries like spaghetti on a fork. More than that, they must howl and stamp their feet in rage at the thought of a better world, a better way and a stronger light than the sun in midday.

    Report Post » Rayblue  
    • fertlmind
      Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:32pm

      There are more lights on that tree than they have in all of North Korea!
      I spent more than 5 years total in Korea in the 70′s.
      Everything in the world changes and moves forward except North Korea.
      They have a jones for maintaining stone age commie sensibilities.
      The funniest thing I ever saw was re patriated NK infiltrator goons stripping off all the clothes given to them by the south the second they were on the NK side of the DMZ. They never had it so good as they did while they were captives ot the ROK. But to them the clothes and gifts we gave them were like poison. some of them would just rather be naked and starving than free. Many NK’s are afraid of liberty because they have been mindless puppets owned by a dictatorship for so long. They are truly brainwashed. Sad

      Report Post » fertlmind  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:51pm

      fertlmind

      “There are more lights on that tree than they have in all of North Korea!”

      The problem is not so much any religious context, but just as you point out that the South has electricity to spare where the North has very little. That right there makes people think. They are not all brainwashed, most know how to keep their, mouth shut to keep from getting killed by liberals who run North Korea.

      Report Post »  
  • tenndave
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:03pm

    Oh and by the way it is the holiday scene not a nativity scene, I mean come on do you want the ACLU and the PC police to show up on the site.

    Report Post »  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:01pm

    Evangelicals? Propaganda? NO WAY!

    At least it’s to piss of Jong Il, that’s ok.

    Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:47pm

      Obama (smartest man on earth) will tell the south they should surrender..

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • Dougral Supports Israel
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:48pm

    South Koreans who live within 20 miles or so of the border should buy helium balloons and tie various messages of freedom to them and on one night when the wind blows towards the north, let them all go.

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:47pm

    Why are Communist, Atheist, Socialist, Marxist, and Liberals, so afraid of a baby named Jesus, who was born in a manger over two thousand years ago?
    Could it be, they truly know he was the son of God, the only God.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS North Korea.

    Report Post »  
    • TRONINTHEMORNING
      Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:55pm

      Herod was pretty was pretty worried about the Christ-child. Guess it never changes throughout the ages. Merry Christmas, indeed!

      Report Post »  
    • tenndave
      Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:01pm

      I agree but let’s be PC. Why would a holiday tree commeorating the holiday child be offensive to NK?

      Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:43pm

    hey north korea ………………… IF I GET CALLED BACK TO THE BORDER FENCE IM GOING TO MAKE IT MY GOAL TO LOSE AS MUCH LEAD AS I CAN WHILE STARING THROUGH MY NIGHT VISION SCOPE

    do i really have to remind you what happened LAST time i was there????????

    i will never miss……………………….. SEMPER FI

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • kreese
      Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:21pm

      This is what happens when the job isn’t finished. If we have to go back..the job needs to be finished…a few nukes would work nicely.

      Report Post »  
  • Buck Shane
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:39pm

    South Korea has an enormous economy. Anybody know why we are there to protect them? Why can’t the defend themselves against the bankrupt North Koreans? Why do we care? Merry Christmas.

    Report Post » Buck Shane  
  • Daniel4
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:20pm

    South Korea: “Merry Christmas. We wish ALL Peace On Earth.”

    North Korea: “Blah Blah Blah.”

    Blessings on the South Korean Christians and prayers for those brothers and sisters in captivity north of the 38th Parallel. May our Lord bless you richly this year for your faithfulness in poverty and oppression.

    Amen.

    Report Post »  
  • last frontier
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:20pm

    This like when Hooville started singing to the Grinch.

    Report Post » last frontier  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:13pm

    Did Clark Griswald move to South Korea? Talk about Light Envy, sounds like Mr Kim is a grinch. I bet he doesn’t like tinsle either, it distracts him.

    North Korea must celebrate Festivus.

    Festivus for the rest of us.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • RightThinking1
      Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:47pm

      @Darmok
      LOL…, that was my reaction also. What are they going to do, erect a couple of Festivus poles? ROFL…
      “By golly, THAT will teach those S. Koreans to mess with us!”

      Report Post »  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:13pm

    Hope the South Koreans make it a Korean Arbor Day along the border!

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

    Report Post »  
  • bikerr
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:11pm

    Take out the words South Korea and North Korea and put in Liberal Atheists and USA citizens and you have what is happening here in the U.S.A…. sigh

    Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:08pm

    Seriously?!?!? North Korea is going to get mad because South Korea has a Christmas Tree setup?!?!? I mean, what a bunch of childish nutjobs

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • Shasta
      Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:25pm

      Yeah, but look at similar attacks on Christmas in this country

      Report Post » Shasta  
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