Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - The Christmas lights and Christmas trees built by the army of South Korea in the areas bordering the North is "a provocation", "they are part of a psychological warfare" and could unleash a "sea of fire" towards South Koreans: with such threats, North Korea has criticized the lights and Christmas decorations that South Korean troops have placed in Aegibong in the province of Gyeonggi. Aegibong is located about three kilometers from the border with North Korea and is a place from which, according to Pyongyang, provocations start as "radio broadcasts and leaflets against North Korea".
The authorities of the north – explains a source of Fides in Seoul – fear the cultural influence of the South on the population of the North, who will not be able to celebrate in any way the Christmas holidays strictly banned in the north of the "bamboo curtain". For this Pyongyang highly criticizes the Christmas lights saying that –it recites a site of propaganda of Pyongyang - "if the move leads to unpredictable results, all responsibilities will be determined on the warmongers of the South".
In addition to the decorations in Aegibong, the military of the South intend to create decorations similar in two other places along the border, easily visible from the north side of the military demarcation line that separates the two Koreas: two large Christmas trees will be erected on Christmas Day and will remain until early January. Beyond the "Christmas strife" in the last weeks the North has taken an increasingly belligerent tone against Seoul, increased nationalist rhetoric.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Day for Human Rights (December 10 last), organizations of the "International Coalition to stop the crimes against humanity in North Korea", born in September 2011 and consists of over 40 NGOs such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Freedom House, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), reiterated the appeal for "international action to stop the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the dictatorship of North Korea" asking for a special UN commission of inquiry. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/12/2011)
