The unification ministry on Thursday unveiled a monument near the inter-Korean border to commemorate North Korean defectors who lost their lives during escapes from the repressive regime. The monument was set up at the Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju, a border city just south of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, the ministry said in a release. The move came as the government has designated July 14 as the official day for North Korean defectors. The date marks the enactment of the law on protecting North Korean defectors and supporting their settlement, which came into effect on this date in 1997. The ministry held a ceremony to unveil the monument, bringing together Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho; Tae Yong-ho, the Secretary-General for the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council; and around 60 North Korean defectors. The monument has the inscription, "To commemorate the 'yearning' and 'courage' of North Korean defectors for freedom, and to honor those who sacrificed their lives duri ng their defection journey." In a speech, Minister Kim emphasized the significance of the establishment of North Korean defectors' day and the monument, expressing his commitment to spreading their noble courage. "The government will offer comprehensive protection and set up a systemic support program for the stable settlement of North Korean defectors in a bid to respond to the courage shown by those who risked their lives to flee North Korea," Kim said. The ministry said it will spur efforts to make similar monuments be established around the world. To this end, the government has registered the design of the monument with copyrighted public records so that people can easily use it. South Korea has a longstanding policy of accepting any North Korean defectors who wish to live in the South. Currently, South Korea is home to more than 34,000 North Korean defectors. The flow of defectors continues amid chronic food shortages and harsh political oppression in North Korea. In the first half of the year, the number of North Korean defectors arriving in South Korea reached 105, slightly up from 99 the previous year. Source: Yonhap News Agency