Help actually
impartial journalism
Our mission is to ship unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds energy to account and exposes the reality.
Whether or not $5 or $50, each contribution counts.
Help us to ship journalism with out an agenda.
A North Korean diplomat in Cuba defected to South Korea along with his household in November final 12 months, the South Korean spy company has mentioned, in what can be the highest-profile defection in recent times.
In a short assertion, the Nationwide Intelligence Service confirmed a South Korean newspaper’s report saying that Ri Il Kyu, 52, North Korean counsellor of political affairs in Cuba, defected final 12 months.
As a counsellor, Mr Ri was tasked with blocking rival South Korea and outdated ally Cuba from forging diplomatic ties, Chosun Ilbo reported.
The two international locations established diplomatic ties in February this 12 months, weakening Pyongyang’s skinny community of allies.
Mr Ri mentioned he didn’t reveal his plan even to his household till hours earlier than he pulled off the high-risk escape. “I purchased flight tickets and known as my spouse and child to inform them about my determination, six hours earlier than the defection,” he mentioned. “I didn’t say South Korea, however mentioned, let’s stay overseas.”
Mr Ri informed Chosun Ilbo that he defected due to disillusionment with the North Korean political system.
However the Yonhap information company, citing an unidentified South Korean official, reported that Mr Ri escaped after clashing with North Korean overseas ministry officers about his job analysis.
Mr Ri’s is the most recent defection from remoted North Korea. These caught making an attempt to defect from the nation face extreme punishment, together with demise, in accordance with human rights teams and defectors who’ve been profitable.
The final high-profile defection from North Korea to South Korea was that of Tae Yong-ho, a former deputy ambassador to the UK, who escaped in 2016, drawing rebuke from Pyongyang.
Mr Tae mentioned he fled as a result of he didn’t need his youngsters to stay “depressing” lives in North Korea and that he felt “despair” after watching Kim Kong-un order the executions of officers and pursue the event of nuclear weapons.
North Korea known as Mr Tae “human scum” and accused him of embezzling authorities cash and committing different crimes. Mr Tae was elected to South Korea‘s parliament in 2020.
Mr Ri was inducted into North Korea’s overseas ministry in 1999 and applauded by the North Korean chief for efficiently negotiating with Panama to finish the detention of a North Korean ship caught carrying arms from Cuba in 2013, Chosun Ilbo mentioned.
Mr Ri mentioned North Korea denying his request to journey to Mexico for medical therapy final 12 months was the ultimate nail within the coffin in his determination to go away North Korea.
The demise of his mother and father and parents-in-law, who might need confronted reprisals for his defection, additionally helped him make up his thoughts, he mentioned.
In line with human rights teams, fewer North Korean defectors have been in a position to escape to the South in recent times resulting from strict limits on border crossings into China and hefty dealer charges.
Final 12 months, 196 North Korean defectors got here to Seoul, down from almost 2,700 a decade in the past, in accordance with information from the South Korean authorities.
In 2020, North Korean diplomat Jo Tune Gil and his spouse have been reported to be dwelling in South Korea after having disappeared in Italy. Mr Jo was working within the North Korean embassy in Rome as appearing ambassador.
The 12 months earlier than, North Korea’s appearing ambassador to Kuwait left for South Korea along with his household. South Korean lawmakers mentioned the diplomat modified his title to Ryu Hyun-woo after arriving in South Korea.
