The South Korean military has vowed to sternly respond to any retaliatory moves from North Korea toward efforts by a Christian group to set up a Christmas tree near the inter-Korean border.
 
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) expressed deep concerns over the North Korean military’s threats to carry out "ruthless retaliation," distorting discussions to set up a Christmas tree on Aegibong hill in Gimpo as psychological warfare.
 
The JCS then called on the North to immediately stop repeating rude words and actions toward the South’s leader. It stressed that if the North ignores the South’s warnings and pursues provocations, it will be faced with strong countermeasures.
 
In the past, Aegibong hill housed a Christmas decorative tower for 43 years, but the military dismantled it in October this year after it was found to be dangerous in a safety check conducted in 2013.
 
The Christian Council of Korea had planned to set up a Christmas tree at a location where the tower was dismantled but retracted the plan last week due to opposition by the local residents and some civic groups.