Pocheon, Paju, Gimpo, Goyang, Yeoncheon, and Other Areas Designated as 'Flyer Distribution Risk Zones' (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province designated five areas?Pocheon, Paju, Gimpo, Goyang, and Yeoncheon County?as "danger zones" on the 17th, viewing the distribution of leaflets to North Korea as an act that threatens the lives and safety of residents.

From now on, access by individuals involved in leaflet distribution to North Korea will be restricted in these areas, and the preparation, transportation, distribution, and use of related materials such as leaflets will be prohibited. This is the first time that danger zones have been established in relation to leaflet distribution to North Korea.

On the same day, Gyeonggi Province issued an "Administrative Order on the Designation of Danger Zones and Prohibition of Acts," setting the entire areas of Pocheon, Paju, Gimpo, Goyang, and Yeoncheon County?excluding military bases?as danger zones until November 30.

In the announcement of the administrative order, the reason for designating the danger zones was stated as "disaster prevention through controlling access and prohibiting acts by those distributing leaflets to North Korea."

This administrative order is based on Article 41 (Designation of Danger Zones) of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety, and violations may result in imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.

Earlier, on the 12th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung stated on his social media (SNS), "Recklessly distributing leaflets to North Korea is a dangerously provocative act that could trigger military conflict and heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and it is an act that causes a 'social disaster' threatening the lives and safety of residents. It is absolutely unacceptable."

Accordingly, on the same day, the province defined illegal leaflet distribution to North Korea as an act threatening the lives and safety of residents and announced three countermeasures: ▲ designation of danger zones in some border areas and prohibition of access by leaflet distributors ▲ prevention of preparatory acts such as vehicle movement and gas injection for leaflet distribution and preemptive blocking of illegal acts ▲ strong measures including crackdowns, investigations, and prosecutions by the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit.

On the 16th, a first task force (TF) meeting to prevent leaflet distribution to North Korea was held, chaired by Deputy Governor for Peace Lee Jae-gang, with 16 heads of related departments attending to review specific implementation plans and departmental strategies for responding to leaflet distribution.

The province has established an emergency contact network with Gimpo, Paju, and Yeoncheon County?where leaflet distribution is frequent?as well as the Southern and Northern Gyeonggi Police Agencies, and has set up a system for immediate reporting and response when leaflet distribution occurs.

Meanwhile, with the demolition of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office and the North’s military response to leaflet distribution becoming a reality, the sense of crisis among residents in the border areas of Gyeonggi Province is intensifying.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.