Seoul, Oct 13 (IANS): South Korea's unification ministry Monday said that to ensure safety of local residents it will take appropriate measures against activists dropping leaflets from balloons against North Korea.

Unification ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol told a press briefing that North Korean troops fired shots at balloons that contain anti-North Korea leaflets, and people in the civilian area where the incident occurred expressed worry about the incident, saying the government should take action against those responsible.

In the past, police in South Korea restricted entry into areas near the inter-Korean border of some civilian groups which sought to float anti-North Korea leaflets. The police also persuaded the groups to return home, Lim said, adding that such measures can be taken, if necessary, according to Xinhua.

His comments came after North Korean forces Friday shot down with machine guns balloons carrying anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets. The balloons were floated by a South Korean civilian organisation, mainly made up of "defectors" from North Korea.

No damage was reported from the South Korean side, but some of the bullets landed in a western South Korean border town. In response, the South Korean military fired some 40 rounds from K-6 machine guns.

Pyongyang has repeatedly called for a stop to the leaflet dropping, accusing Seoul of supporting and acquiescing to their distribution.

Lim's comments indicated an actual restriction by the South Korean government on civilian groups dropping anti-North Korea leaflets as fears among people in areas near where the incident occurred are escalating after the exchange of firing.

The spokesman, however, noted that there was no legal ground for the government to restrict the leaflet distribution conducted voluntarily by civilian groups, reiterating its previous stance that the leaflet dropping is not related to the authorities.