Paju City Sets Danger Zones Across Entire Area... Moves to Completely Block Distribution of Anti-North Korea Leaflets

Strengthened Patrols and On-Site Dispatch... Strong Response Including Criminal Charges Upon Detection
Request to Report to Situation Room if North Korea Leaflet Distributors Are Found

Notice of Complete Prohibition on the Distribution of Leaflets in Paju City.

Gyeonggi Paju City declared a strong stance against the distribution of anti-North Korea leaflets that threaten the lives and safety of its citizens, following Gyeonggi Province's designation of the entire Paju area as a danger zone on the 16th.

On the 17th, Paju City stated that the leaflet distribution activities carried out by some North Korean defectors' groups have escalated into North Korea's attacks using dirty balloons and loudspeaker noise, severely threatening the peace, safety, and even the lives of Paju citizens. The city announced it will strengthen patrols at locations expected to be used for leaflet distribution in cooperation with Gyeonggi Province's special investigative police and will respond strongly with on-site action and criminal prosecution upon receiving reports.

In fact, residents in the border area of Paju have recently suffered greatly due to mutual balloon launches and noise broadcasts between the South and North. Especially, residents of Daeseong-dong Village, the northernmost village, have reached a level where daily life is impossible due to insomnia and neurosis caused by North Korea's loudspeaker noise broadcasts, making urgent countermeasures necessary.

Accordingly, on the 14th, Paju Mayor Kim Kyung-il appeared as a witness at the Gyeonggi Province National Assembly audit to report the damage caused by the loudspeaker noise broadcasts, and on the 16th, Gyeonggi Province promptly designated Paju City as a danger zone.

The administrative order prohibiting leaflet distribution and designating danger zones by Gyeonggi Province applies to the entire areas of Paju City, Gimpo City, and Yeoncheon County. Prohibited actions within the danger zones include ▲ restricting access of personnel involved in leaflet distribution ▲ preparation, transportation, distribution, and use of related materials such as leaflets. Violations are punishable by imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW.

Mayor Kim Kyung-il of Paju said, “The anxiety and suffering of Paju citizens are growing, and this is a serious situation where both life and safety are threatened. We will mobilize all administrative power to strongly respond and completely block the distribution of anti-North Korea leaflets together with the 520,000 citizens of Paju.”

Meanwhile, Paju City urged citizens to report any sightings of leaflet distributors to the Paju City Situation Room, which operates 24 hours a day.