A South Korean military officer stands guard Tuesday as Christians prepare a lighting ceremony in front of a Christmas tree atop a military-controlled hill near the militarized border. The tree is the latest focus of tensions with North Korea. [Kim Jae-Myung, AFP/Getty Images]

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It's the season of goodwill to all mankind, but not on the Korean peninsula. The two rival neighbors are once again threatening to go to war -- this time over a gaudy display of Christmas lights.

North Korea's Grinch-like military reportedly is threatening to shell a floodlit metal tower -- decked with 100,000 light bulbs and topped with an illuminated cross -- that the South has erected on its side of the heavily militarized border, according to the South's Yonhap News Agency. The Christmas tree-shaped beacon was switched on Tuesday night at a ceremony that saw a Santa-hatted choir -- surrounded by gun-toting marines -- sing "Joy to the World" and other carols. ...（點擊美國在線查看原文）

朝鮮要摧毀韓國圣誕樹？！

???????當全世界都一團和樂地準備過圣誕節的時候，朝鮮半島又一次風云突變。朝鮮和韓國這對老冤家再次嚷嚷要開戰了，不過這次不是為了軍演，而是為了一棵高大的圣誕樹。

???????據韓國媒體報道，朝鮮軍方聲稱要全力摧毀韓國邊境的一座鐵塔。因為韓國人把這座鐵塔打扮成圣誕樹的模樣，在上面掛了10萬枚燈泡，還舉辦了一場隆重的亮燈儀式，請合唱團在士兵長槍短炮的包圍下大唱特唱了一番圣誕歌曲。

???????韓國人說，這一舉動完全是出于好心，他們希望把圣誕節的歡樂氣氛傳遞給朝鮮同胞。

???????但朝鮮政府明顯沒有接受這番好意，他們斥責韓國人是借機搞政治宣傳。因為朝鮮邊境地區都能看到這座高大的燈塔，每天晚上韓國那邊燈火通明，歌舞升平，朝鮮這邊卻三餐不繼，經常停電，動不動就陷入一片黑暗。朝鮮政府說，韓國人點亮鐵塔的行為是魯莽的，朝鮮有可能會發動攻擊進行反擊。

???????面對朝鮮的威脅，韓國也毫不服輸，他們的國防部官員表示，如果朝鮮膽敢攻擊圣誕鐵塔，韓國一定對他們進行強有力的反擊。

???????不過盡管兩國高層唾沫橫飛，鐵塔還是在朝韓邊境上屹立不倒，明亮的燈光繼續照耀著這兩個劍拔弩張的國家。