The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday criticized Seoul for denying government support for the dispersion of anti-DPRK leaflets via balloons across the border.

Pyongyang accused South Korean authorities of evading their "responsibilities" and "behaving shamelessly," the official KCNA news agency reported.

On September 13, a spokesperson for the DPRK delegation to the high-level north-south contact urged South Korean authorities to stop spreading leaflets of anti-DPRK propaganda via balloons over the territory of the DPRK, which it called "Balloon Operation."

However, two days later, the Unification Ministry of South Korea denied the DPRK's allegation that the South Korean government has supported dispersion of anti-DPRK leaflets, saying Seoul is abiding by inter-Korean agreements and it was groundless to claim the scattering of leaflets to be connected with the authorities.

Seoul asserted its inability to stop such leaflet scattering by civic groups because it is a basic right of citizens under the social system of South Korea.

"This is nothing but sheer sophism," an anonymous spokesperson for the DPRK delegation to north-south high-level contact was quoted as saying by KCNA.

To scatter leaflets peppered with invectives hurting the DPRK leadership and its social system is the gravest hostile act that hinders mending inter-Korean relations and national unity, the KCNA report said, adding "it is nonsensical to build confidence and promote reconciliation while persisting in slandering the fellow countrymen."

Efforts to foster a favorable atmosphere for improving ties must be made above all else, in order to put an end to inter-Korean division and safeguard the security of the nation, it said.

The DPRK once again urged South Korean authorities to unconditionally call off the leaflet scattering operation, saying Seoul should show sincerity for its commitment to the confidence building process on the peninsula, according to the report.