-
IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Banners with slogans are displayed in Pyongyang on March 25, 2012. (Reuters)
South Korea sheds some Christmas light on North
AFP December 23, 20124:36PM
A 30-metre tree-shaped light tower stands on the hill in the town of Gimpo, near the border with North Korea. Residents complained that the lights may draw military retaliation from the North that has repeatedly condemned the event as "psychological warfare" aimed at spreading Christianity. Picture: AFP Source: AFP
SOUTH Korean church groups have displayed Christmas lights near the tense border with North Korea, an official said, despite concerns about a violent response from Pyongyang.
Dozens of church leaders and followers put up the giant display - featuring thousands of glittering light bulbs on a tree-shaped steel tower - near the heavily-fortified border, a defence ministry spokesman told AFP.
The lights on a military-controlled hill in Gimpo, west of Seoul, will be displayed until early January and can apparently be seen several kilometres away in the impoverished North suffering from chronic power shortage.
Before the South's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea launched in 1998, the seasonal lighting displays were common.
Pyongyang repeatedly condemned them as "psychological warfare" by its capitalist neighbour aimed at spreading Christianity in the isolated communist state.
In 2004 the two Koreas agreed to halt official-level cross-border propaganda and the South stopped the Christmas border illuminations completely.
They were resumed in 2010 after North Korea shelled a frontline island, but were postponed last year in a conciliatory gesture following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.
But the latest illumination has provoked fear among some local residents who staged a protest amid concerns about potential retaliation from the North, according to Yonhap news agency.
"All residents here are left to tremble in fear... as long as the light tower stays here," a group of residents said in a statement.
Before Kim's death Pyongyang warned of "unexpected consequences" if Seoul displayed Christmas lights in 2011 and vowed unspecified retaliation.
Cross-border tensions have been high since the nuclear-armed North this month staged a long-range rocket launch widely condemned as a disguised ballistic missile test by the international community.
North Korea's Gulag Archipelago
This is a satellite image of new buildings and removal of a fenceline. Also, new roofs have been installed on the barracks and a new fountain/reflecting pool
is visible at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
Last edited:
North Korea's Gulag Archipelago
This is a satellite image of several new buildings at this camp in 2008. In addition, fencing around the buildings appears to be removed and earth
has been graded for construction at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
North Korea's Gulag Archipelago
This is a satellite image showing the perimeter of the camp was significantly expanded. In addition, new guard towers were added adn numerous structures
have been razed or are under construction at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
North Korea's Gulag Archipelago
This is a satellite image showing little change at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
North Korea's Gulag Archipelago
This is a satellite image of expanded roadways as well as a new wall and new buildings at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a satellite image showing one building razed and four new guard towers and one new building have been erected at Camp 25 in North Korea.
(Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a satellite image of an area where several buildings have been razed adn new buildings have been erected
at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a satellite image of the central camp area including agricultural support, a light industrial area, prisoner housing,
a crematory and adminstrative and support areas at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a satellite image showing a new building erected in 2004 at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a satellite image of Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a satellite image showing changes in the light industrial adn prisoner housing area, as well as two possible new guard towers
at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a close in satellite image showing the changes in this area of the camp, such as some new buildings
and a new wall at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a satellite image showing new buildings erected outside of the main area
of Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a detailed satellite image of the northwest wall of the light industrial and prisoner housing area, a guard tower,
probable power lines and a wall topped with barbed wire at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
This is a satellite image of the perimeter and stratgically placed guard towers at Camp 25 in North Korea. (Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
North Korea's Gulag Archipelago
In this satellite view taken on April 7, 2011 showing the area of Political Prison Camp 15 (PPC15) in Yodok, North Korea. According to Amnesty International, in PPC 15 (Yodok) several buildings have been added or removed compared to similar images dated 2002, including roughly 15 new guard houses, which have been added. Many new agricultural fields, mostly small, are visible in the 2011 image. (Photo by DigitalGlobe via Getty Images)
Similar threads
