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Lee orders measures to prevent anti-Pyongyang leaflet launches, punish violators

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By Yonhap
  • Published KST
  • Updated KST
Activists launching large balloons carrying messages toward North Korea from the western border city of Paju, June 2, in this file photo, provided by a group for families of abductees in North Korea. Yonhap

Activists launching large balloons carrying messages toward North Korea from the western border city of Paju, June 2, in this file photo, provided by a group for families of abductees in North Korea. Yonhap

President Lee Jae-myung ordered officials, Saturday, to come up with measures to prevent the launch of anti-Pyongyang leaflets in areas bordering North Korea.

The president's order followed a report that a civic group had launched anti-Pyongyang leaflets from Ganghwa Island off Incheon, west of Seoul, earlier in the day, presidential spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

"The government has previously said the illegal distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets should be halted, as it could jeopardize the safety of border area residents and escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula," she said, adding that the government "takes violators' actions very seriously."

She warned of "stern measures" against those responsible.

The government is scheduled to discuss comprehensive measures against anti-Pyongyang leaflets launches on Monday.

Earlier this week, Lee had ordered relevant government agencies to devise measures to counter such launches.