Around 200 North Koreans began receiving artificial intelligence-generated phone calls this week, as part of a pilot program aimed at detecting signs of isolation, financial hardship and physical or mental health problems among those struggling to adapt to life in South Korea. 

The state-funded Korea Hana Foundation’s social adaptation department launched the project Tuesday to regularly call defectors, analyze conversations and alert authorities when signs of physical or mental health issues are detected.

The calls will target roughly 200 defectors aged 40 and above, according to a Unification Ministry press release. The pilot will run through the end of