An association of civic groups and border residents call for a halt in sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border in front of Imjingak in Paju, June 26. Yonhap

Civic groups and border residents called Wednesday for a halt to sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into the North after another batch of trash-carrying balloons flew in from the North overnight.

During a press conference held in front of Imjingak in Paju, just south of the Demilitarized Zone, 24 civic groups and border residents denounced North Korean defectors for their propaganda leaflet campaign that they say is aggravating "unnecessary tension between the two Koreas and accelerating the risk of war."

"Border residents, particularly in Gyeonggi Province, are facing significant hardships in their daily lives as they face sleep disorders and anxiety," the civic group said, urging the local government to sternly clamp down on these acts, and the police to look into any violations of the Aviation Safety Act.

North Korea launched more than 250 trash-carrying balloons toward the South overnight for the sixth time since late last month. Since late last month, the North is estimated to have launched more than 2,000 trash-carrying balloons. (Yonhap)