The Ministry of Unification of the Republic of Korea, which is in charge of inter-Korean affairs, said on Monday that it will take measures to prevent civic groups from scattering leaflets against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea if it clearly endangers the safety of people living near the border.

Unification Ministry vice-spokeswoman Park Soo-jin said that the scattering of anti-DPRK leaflets by civic groups is "basically" a matter of freedom of expression that cannot be forcefully restrained.

Park, however, noted that the government clearly recognizes that such actions should not harm other people, nor threaten public order.