North Korea asked the South recently to stop flying propaganda leaflets toward the North over the inter-Korean border.

According to officials, North Korea sent the South Korean government two official letters on Saturday and then again on Monday, urging the latter to stop sending balloons containing anti-Pyongyang messages.

In response, the officials explained that the South Korean government cannot restrict people from flying the balloons, which is out of their desire to freely express their opinions.

By Ro Ji-woong (jamesro@heraldcorp.com)