Military authorities have suspended the launch of propaganda leaflets toward North Korea, which was resumed as part of increased psychological warfare after North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island in November last year.

"The psy-ops operations command has not sent leaflets toward the North for several months since its plan to float leaflets about the Arab Spring was leaked to controversy in February and March," a military source said. It seems the plan was suspended as part of government efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, the source added.

He added the decision was partly made because the wind currently blows in the wrong direction to float these leaflets attached to helium balloons across the border. But he said propaganda radio broadcasts continue.

Another military officer declined to say when and why the leaflet launches were halted, saying psychological operations against the North are secret.

The military resumed the propaganda broadcasts after the North sank the Navy corvette Cheonan in March last year. They had been suspended since 2004. It resumed the leaflet launches, suspended since 2000, after the North shelled Yeonpyeong Island in November last year.