Gyeonggi mulls designating danger zones to block anti-N.K. leaflets

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon said Monday his government is considering designating some of the inter-Korean border areas within the province as "danger zones" to stop North Korean defectors and activists from sending anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets across the border. Kim made the remarks during a parliamentary inspection of his government when asked by lawmakers about countermeasures against rising cross-border tensions over alleged flights of drones and trash-laden balloons from the North. North Korea has said it is sending trash balloons across the border in response to the launch of anti-North Korea leaflets by its defectors in the South. The North recently accused South Korea of sending drones to scatter anti-North leaflets over Pyongyang. Rep. Lee Hae-sik of the main opposition Democratic Party said at the inspection session that North Korea's trash balloon provocation appears to be closely related to the launch of anti-North leaflets. In response, Kim said he instructed his government M onday morning to consider designating Yeoncheon, Pocheon, Paju, Gimpo and Goyang as danger zones. If the danger zone designation is implemented, the provincial government can issue an administrative order to prohibit the entry into the areas by senders of anti-Pyongyang leaflets and police can arrest violators of the order. Source: Yonhap News Agency