Dozens of South Korean residents near the inter-Korean border plan to seek a court injunction against the scattering of anti-North Korean leaflets across the border, saying the activity threatens their safety, their legal representatives said Wednesday.

South Korean activists have frequently launched balloons carrying these leaflets across the border to criticize the North Korean regime. Pyongyang has urged South Korea to stop the activities, but Seoul has refused, citing freedom of speech. 

Minbyun, a group of lawyers representing the 100 residents filing for the injunction, said it would affect four leaflet scattering activist groups, including the Fighters for Free North Korea. 

The injunction to be filed with the Seoul Central District Court calls for these groups to be fined 2 million won (US$1,814) per transgression.

"The landing of North Korean shots near the South Korean villages has made residents quiver in fear," the group said in a statement. "Yet, the activists appear determined to continue scattering these leaflets, but they need to be stopped."

In October, the two Koreas exchanged machine gun fire after the North shot at the balloons. Some of the shots landed in South Korea to residents' panic.

Minbyun said the groups should not only be banned from bringing balloons and other tools needed for scattering near the border but also from holding press conferences and releasing statements about their upcoming activities.

In late October, the groups failed to launch more balloons from their usual site in Paju, just north of Seoul, due to residents' protests.

Some of them, however, have moved to Gimpo, just southwest of Paju, to hold more scatterings in private. (Yonhap)