S. Korea lights Christmas tree in snub to North

[alex cross]

WTF are these MORONS trying to do? Start a nuclear war or something? They must realize that a Christmas Tree is an affront to the leaders and people of North Korea.

It's time to cut these "allies" lose, you're on your own from here on out. Nobody can be this stupid and arrogant.

S. Korea lights Christmas tree in snub to North

South Korea lit a massive steel Christmas tree overlooking its armed border with the North on Tuesday, marking a pointed return to a tradition that Pyongyang has condemned as propaganda.

Troops stood guard and a choir sang carols as the 30-metre-tall tree was lit for the first time in seven years.

The provocative ceremony — which must receive government permission — was also a sign that President Lee Myung-bak's administration is serious about countering the North's aggression with measures of its own in the wake of an artillery attack that killed four South Koreans last month.

South Korea lit a 30-metre steel Christmas tree in Gimpo, near the demilitarized zone, on Tuesday, for the first time in seven years. (Lee Jin-man/Associated Press)

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/12/21/korea-north-south-military.html#ixzz18oHIQCTY

[rpannier]

1. As someone who lives within artillery range of the North

I'm okay with it
They take down their oversized statues to their fearless leaders and the South can take down their Christmas tree

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. You of course understand that when teh North sunk the Chosan

the dynamics truly changed, don't you?

THE PEOPLE are demanding this.

As to allies, if the shooting starts, we are stuck. Casualties in the first day of the war will be in the tens of thousands if not higher, for BOTH sides.

[NobodyHere]

3. So what you're saying is...

that the South should capitulate to whatever the North demands?

I say kudos to the South Koreans. If a Xmas tree starts a war then war probably wasn't far off to begin with.

[Codeine]

4. Really? You think they're doing something wrong

by having a Christmas tree in their own fucking country?

The simple existence of the corrupt, evil North Korean regime is a million times more an affront to human decency that that damned Christmas tree is to NK's stupid, ugly, perverted little troll leaders.

[davidthegnome]

5. Well, that'll show THEM

Nothing like a big Christmas tree to show how tough you are.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Well that is PSYCHOLOGICAL

There are also naval exercises underway RIGHT NOW.

[davidthegnome]

7. Sorry

It just somehow strikes me as very odd that this tree is intended as an act of defiance and that it's actually going to piss people off. It's a damned tree for Christ's sake. If they're stupid enough to fight over a fucking tree I see no hope at all.

[HEyHEY]

10. The tree is them saying "Fuck you, we have electricity"

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. And we believe in a god you godless

commies. don't forget that part.

[HEyHEY]

13. Could be

I know Korea has lots of christians... but, at the same time they also have lots of non-christians and xmas is viewed the same as here. Not sure, a Korean expat could explain it better, I bet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Oh absolutely

but there is that tension. It is the most christian country in that area of the world, but not all the population is christian, that goes without saying.

But the caroling was about that too. I am sure to the soldiers at the DMZ it was at least entertaining.

[JVS]

16. Don't flaunt electricity to people who have little to show off other than nukes.

[Imajika]

8. Your getting bent out of shape over a Christmas tree?

"They must realize that a Christmas Tree is an affront to the leaders and people of North Korea."

If you believe the people of North Korea care about the South putting a Christmas tree you are seriously deluded.

Yes, the the Dear Leader and his government hate this sort of symbolism, but the average North Korea is busy finding tree bark to eat to avoid starvation.

[HEyHEY]

9. They should have done something less aggresive, like sink a frigate or shell civilians

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. The exercise in the Eastern Sea

is in my mind far more of a poke than a tree.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. I think you forgot your sarcasm tag

Rightly or wrongly, some are getting excited over the regularly scheduled events that have been going on for years. But a tree? YGBSM

[Selatius]

17. We are treaty-bound to enter the war if South Korea gets into a war with North Korea.

We would have no choice but to enter a conflict if such a war were to occur. Technically, they never stopped the last war.

As far as our alliance goes, I do wonder if the mere existence of an alliance is making the South more bold than it otherwise would be.