South Korea has allowed a Christian group to light a massive steel Christmas tree tower near the country's tense border with North Korea.

The holiday display is thought to be in response to North Korea's recent launching of a long-range rocket that South Korea and the U.S. say was a test of banned missile technology.

The lighted structure was decorated by church groups and will be on display until early January.

Pyongyang considers the tower to be propaganda warfare, but has not responded to this year's holiday tree lighting.

The tree was not lit last year to avoid tensions following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.