Defectors from North Korea plan to designate North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s birthday “world North Korean defectors’ day,” and hold a rally on the day, a high profile defector said Friday.

According to An Chan-il, the chief of World Institute of North Korea Studies and the first defector to obtain a doctorate degree in politics in South Korea, groups representing defectors will celebrate Feb. 16 in honor of those who escaped the regime.

An also said that the representatives plan to bring together 1,000 defectors living in South Korea and 20 defectors living abroad for a rally on that day.

Groups representing North Korean defectors estimate that about 23,000 such people are living in South Korea, and more than 200,000 defectors are dispersed around China.

In addition, about 3,000 people who escaped the dictatorship are thought to be living in Europe, the U.S. and other countries.

According to An, concerned groups are now discussing the details of the planned event.

An said that while North Korea has declared 2012 as the year it will become a strong and prosperous nation, the event the defectors are planning is aimed at spreading the call for the North to become more open and reform its regime, rather than raising a call for its downfall.

According to An, the U.S.-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea is also planning a large scale event to raise awareness about North Korea on April 15, the birthday of Kim Jong-il’s father Kim Il-sung.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)