Residents living near the inter-Korean border clashed with South Korean activists’ attempt to launch anti-regime leaflets toward North Korea on Thursday, underscoring simmering tensions over balloon launches due to security concerns.

Choi Sung-ryong, an activist representing families of North Korean abduction victims, and Park Sang-hak of the activist group Fighters for a Free North Korea had planned to launch balloons from the National Memorial for Abductees during the Korean War on Thursday. 

But they were met by angry residents driving tractors, riot police and local officials who prevented the launch from taking place. 

While activists don’t usually disclose launch plans