High-Ranking North Korean Diplomat Defects To South Korea Amid Growing Tensions
According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), defection details are often revealed gradually as North Korean defectors complete integration courses to adjust to South Korean society.
A senior North Korean diplomat stationed in Cuba has defected to South Korea.
The diplomat, thought to be the highest-ranking North Korean official seeking asylum in South Korea since 2016, fled in November.
According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), defection details are often revealed gradually as North Korean defectors complete integration courses to adjust to South Korean society.
According to South Korean media reports, the defector worked as a political counsellor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba, though the NIS has not officially confirmed this. Seoul’s spy agency confirmed this to the BBC.
The Chosun Ilbo newspaper conducted an interview with the diplomat, identified as 52-year-old Ri Il Kyu, who cited “disillusionment with the North Korean regime and a bleak future” as reasons for defection.
His role reportedly involved efforts to prevent Havana from establishing formal diplomatic ties with Seoul, despite which the two governments established relations in February, viewed as a setback for Pyongyang.
“Every North Korean thinks at least once about living in South Korea,” Ri Il Kyu remarked, highlighting the allure of South Korean society.
The last notable defection to South Korea occurred in 2016 when Tae Yong-ho, North Korea’s former deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, sought asylum. Recently, South Korea celebrated its inaugural North Korean Defectors’ Day, where President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged increased financial support and tax incentives for companies employing defectors.
President Yoon, known for his firm stance on North Korea, advocates for sanctions against Kim Jong Un’s regime and has committed to developing preemptive strike capabilities against potential threats from Pyongyang.
This latest defection coincides with heightened tensions, as Kim Jong Un formally renounced reunification with South Korea and escalated hostilities, branding Seoul as “Enemy number One.”
Recent provocations include North Korea launching propaganda balloons towards South Korea, laden with debris and parasites, and claiming to have tested an advanced nuclear warhead missile in June.
These actions underscore the volatile state of affairs on the Korean peninsula, marking a significant departure from past diplomatic engagements.
