The South Korean government on Monday pledged to strengthen settlement support and other social welfare programs for escapees from North Korea, in a move intended as a response to the news in July of the death of a young woman and her son.

The announcement followed a general meeting of the Ministry of Unification's (MOU) Consultative Council on Residents Escaping from North Korea, after which officials said the government would jointly develop “comprehensive measures” to improve the livelihood of North Korean defectors.