SEOUL -- The unification ministry of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said Wednesday that it will file legal complaint against two civic groups having sent leaflets criticizing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said in a statement that the government will charge the two groups with the violation of the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation act.

It noted that the government will launch the process of cancelling the permission of incorporation given to the two civic groups.

The civic groups delivered anti-DPRK propaganda leaflets across the inter-Korean border by flying balloons into the wind or setting the sealed plastic bottles into the ocean near the border areas.

The ministry said such acts were in violation of the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation act that requires people to get approval from the government before sending materials to the DPRK.

Such acts were directly in violation of the agreement between the leaders of the two Koreas, escalating inter-Korean tensions and endangering the lives and safety of people residing near the border areas, the ministry added.