Paju, Gimpo, and Yeoncheon 'Danger Zone'...a special crackdown on anti-North Korean leaflets

[Anchor]
Amid the increasing level of North Korea's provocations, Gyeonggi Province has set some areas of Paju, Gimpo, and Yeoncheon as dangerous zones and launched a special crackdown on North Korean leaflets.

Residents of the area where YTN met could not hide their anxiety, saying they could hear gunshots every day.

Reporter Kim Yi-young reports.

[Reporter]
It is Munsan-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, where you can clearly see the North Korean land.

Residents were worried and anxious when the news of North Korea's bombing of some sections of the inter-Korean connection between the Gyeongui and Donghae lines became known.

I cringe a lot to see if it's a gunshot.

I don't know if it was loud because it exploded over there, but it was a bit loud for two days. Fang Fang, like now....]

{Ha Young-soo / Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do: I've lived here for about 50 years, but I was very nervous about the willow incident before that. (Recently) I'm worried because I heard they're going to blow up the bridge.]

I sincerely hope that I will not have to turn my back on my hometown where I have lived my whole life.

Amid growing military tensions in the border area near the Gyeongui Line, nearby local governments are also on alert.

First, Gyeonggi Province designated 11 cities and counties in Paju City, Gimpo City, and Yeoncheon County as dangerous areas.

A special judicial police team will be deployed to the dangerous areas to crack down on the spraying of leaflets against North Korea.

This is due to concerns that the spraying of leaflets against North Korea could provide an excuse for armed conflict amid North Korea's military moves.

[Kim Sung-joong / Gyeonggi Province's 1st Deputy Governor for Administration] Gyeonggi Province will mobilize all administrative power it can mobilize to prevent illegal activities with a heavy responsibility that it is for the lives and safety of its residents.]

If you spray leaflets against North Korea in a dangerous area, you will be sentenced to up to one year in prison or fined up to 10 million won under the Disaster Safety Act.

At the same time, Paju City also suspended security tours of the Demilitarized Zone, which toured the Dorasan Observatory, the Third Tunnel, and Tongilchon in response to the military's request for cooperation.

I'm YTN's Kim Lee Young.