Some civic groups and residents in Paju, Gyeonggi Province are calling for strong government sanctions against the anti-North Korea leaflet campaign.
 
Some 20 people, including Paju residents and civic group members, made the call Thursday morning at a news conference at Paju City Hall.
 
The group demanded that the government take measures, such as enacting a law on preventing damage caused by anti-North leaflets flown across the border into North Korea by activist groups.
 
They argued that when the groups come to Paju and fly the leaflets, it is the local residents who have to shoulder the psychological, physical and financial pain from the action.
 
They vowed to sternly respond to the leaflet campaign as it threatened their livelihood.
 
Gwon Sun-wan, who leads a merchants association based in the Imjingak Pavilion area in Paju, said the number of tourists have plunged since North Korea fired shots at the balloons carrying the leaflets.
 
Meanwhile, some conservative groups announced that they will fly 40- to 50-thousand more leaflets tied to balloons at Imjingak at 1 p.m. Saturday.