South Korea Christmas tree lit up near North Korea border

Church groups in South Korea have illuminated a giant Christmas tree-shaped tower near the border with North Korea for the first time in two years.

The event has been banned since 2010 by the South Korean government due to concerns it could escalate tensions between the two countries.

The message at the top reads “peace in the whole world”, but a number of local residents are said to fear it will spark retaliation from the North.

Last year, North Korea warned of “unexpected consequences” if the tower was lit.

Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Sunday that it allowed Christian groups to light the massive steel tower Saturday. It’s to stay lit until January 2.

Pyongyang views the tower as propaganda warfare, though it has not yet responded to this year’s lighting.

The lighting came 10 days after North Korea placed a satellite into orbit aboard a long-range rocket. South Korea and the U.S. say the launch was a test of banned missile technology.

The tree wasn’t lit last year after officials asked Christians to refrain from doing so to avoid tension following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il last December.