SEOUL -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung gave an order to prevent and punish flying balloons that carry leaflets criticizing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Lee's office said Saturday.

It was confirmed that a civic group scattered leaflets through balloons across the inter-Korean border into the DPRK early Saturday, presidential spokeswoman Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

The Lee government announced its stance earlier that the illegal dispersing of anti-DPRK leaflets should be stopped as it can jeopardize the daily lives and safety of people in border areas and escalate military tensions on the Korean peninsula, Kang noted.

Lee ordered all relevant ministries to come up with measures to prevent and punish the scattering of leaflets, planning to discuss comprehensive measures against it on Monday.

The civic group and individuals who flew the anti-DPRK leaflets along the border earlier in the day will be punished according to relevant laws, the spokeswoman added.