The South Korean government formed an inter-agency team to give assistance to North Korean defectors who are facing economic and psychological challenges following their resettlement in the country.

The nine-member team, which includes representatives from several government agencies, will assist defectors in areas ranging from education and employment to accommodation and psychological counselling, according to the Ministry of Unification. According to a biannual government assessment done last year, 1,582 defectors were judged to be in need of assistance in addition to the general welfare package offered to all defectors upon resettlement in the United States. Nearly half of them, or 47%, stated they were having problems with their mental health.

"Close coordination among various organisations is critical since crisis situations faced by North Korean defectors frequently contain interconnected economic, social, and psychological concerns," Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said at a regular press briefing. "We will boost up our help to ensure that they can resettle in our community in a comfortable and reliable manner."

After a defector from the North last year purportedly crossed the strongly fortified inter-Korean border to return home last month, the living circumstances of North Korean defectors were brought to light. The man, who is said to be in his 30s, is known to have suffered financially while living in the South.

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