North Korea pressed South Korea Wednesday not to light up giant Christmas tree-shaped towers near their tense border, warning of unspecified grave consequences.
The warning comes as South Korea prepares to illuminate three towers near the border from Dec. 23 to Jan. 6.
In 2004, the two divided Koreas agreed to end border propaganda activity in a spirit of reconciliation. South Korea resumed lighting a 30-meter-tall stylized Christmas tree on a peak near the western border last year in response to the North's artillery attack on a border island that killed four South Koreans.
South Korea "immediately needs to retract" its plan "by keeping in mind the grave consequences," the North's state television said in a report monitored by Yonhap News Agency.
The North also condemned the illuminated structure as part of Seoul's psychological warfare.
The latest warning followed just weeks after the North's military threatened to turn Seoul's presidential office into "a sea of fire" because of massive military exercises by South Korea near the tense western sea border.
The reaction underscored North Korea's sensitivity toward a symbol of Christmas celebrations that can be seen in its country, which has no religious freedom.
North Korea severely cracks down on any religious activities, viewing them as challenges to leader Kim Jong-il's rule. Kim is the subject of a massive cult of personality along with his late father, the country's founder Kim Il-sung. (Yonhap)