On October 15, the South Korean government in Gyeonggi Province designated areas such as Paju, Gimpo, and Yeoncheon near the inter-Korean border as “danger zones.” This measure prohibits civic groups from using balloons to send leaflets and other items into North Korea.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government explained that this action comes in response to the recent deterioration of relations between South Korea and North Korea, emphasizing the need to protect the safety of residents in border areas.

According to reports, sending leaflets and other materials into North Korea using balloons is seen as a potentially dangerous act that could escalate into military conflict.

Earlier, on October 11, North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement claiming that South Korea deployed drones over Pyongyang on October 3, 9, and 10 to distribute numerous anti-North propaganda leaflets. The statement described South Korea’s actions as a serious provocation that cannot be overlooked or forgiven, highlighting the dual use of drones that could also serve military purposes. The South Korean Ministry of Defense has chosen not to confirm whether drones were sent to Pyongyang.