South Korea will cut financial subsidies for North Korean defectors by one-third next year, while introducing an incentive system to encourage them to stand on their own feet.

The Unification Ministry said Thursday that it would cut the amount of government money currently paid to defectors from the current 28 million won or 26,600 dollars to 10 million won. It said, however, that defectors will be able to receive up to 15 million won in additional financial incentives if they undertake job training, obtain certificates and enter the local job market.

Vice Unification Minister Rhee Bong-jo told reporters that the latest plan on North Korean defectors focuses on providing assistance for their efforts to support themselves in the capitalist South.

Rhee also said Seoul will strengthen its screening of North Korean defectors who reach South Korean missions abroad to prevent criminals and ethnic Koreans pretending to be from the North from entering the South.