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North Korean diplomat in London defects, says media in South Korea High-ranking North Korean diplomat in London defects to South Korea
(about 3 hours later)
A senior diplomat from the North Korean embassy in London has defected, according to South Korean media, in the first case of its kind since official ties were established and the embassy opened 13 years ago. A senior diplomat from the North Korean embassy in London has defected in the first case of its kind since official ties were established and the embassy opened 13 years ago.
The diplomat, who vanished earlier this month with his wife and children, was based at North Korea’s suburban embassy in Ealing, west London. He was now seeking asylum in a third country, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said. Thae Yong Ho, who vanished earlier this month with his wife and children, was based at North Korea’s suburban embassy in Ealing, west London.
One of five officials at the embassy in addition to the ambassador, the diplomat’s job was to keep track of North Korean defectors living in London. He was also tasked with rebutting UK criticism of his country’s human rights record, the reports said. Seoul’s unification ministry confirmed on Wednesday he had recently defected to South Korea with his family.
According to the JoongAng Ilbo, the missing diplomat was likely to be either Thae Yong-ho, a minister, or Ryu Kyong-jun, a third secretary. Thae, one of the highest-level North Korean officials ever to have defected to South Korea, defected due to discontent with the regime and for the future of his child, Jeong Joon-hee, a spokesman at the ministry, told a news conference.
The Foreign Office said on Tuesday that it was investigating. Jeong declined to give details on the timing of Thae’s arrival in South Korea or his itinerary. “They are currently under government protection and relevant institutions are going ahead with necessary procedures as usual,” Jeong said.
Thae Yong-ho’s younger son studied at a school in west London. According to one of his classmates, he vanished in mid-July. “We were really good friends. He was on Facebook every day and What’s App. Suddenly all his social media accounts went dark,” Louis Prior, 19, said. The defection of a diplomat was first reported in the the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper on Tuesday.
One of five officials at the embassy in addition to the ambassador, Thae’s job was to keep track of North Korean defectors living in London. He was also tasked with rebutting UK criticism of his country’s human rights record, South Korean media reported.
Thae’s younger son studied at a school in west London, and according to one of his classmates, he vanished in mid-July. “We were really good friends. He was on Facebook every day and What’s App. Suddenly all his social media accounts went dark,” Louis Prior, 19, said.
Prior said his friend had been born in Denmark where his father was posted. The family returned to north Korea and arrived in the UK four years ago. Thae’s son had taken his A-Levels and was about to take up a place at Imperial college, London, studying maths and computer science.Prior said his friend had been born in Denmark where his father was posted. The family returned to north Korea and arrived in the UK four years ago. Thae’s son had taken his A-Levels and was about to take up a place at Imperial college, London, studying maths and computer science.
“We have been really worried about him. We all tried his phone. It’s been blocked. He’s a good mate. He just vanished,” Prior said.“We have been really worried about him. We all tried his phone. It’s been blocked. He’s a good mate. He just vanished,” Prior said.
If confirmed, the defection would be a coup for British and other western intelligence agencies. John Nilsson-Wright, the head of the Asia programme at Chatham House, said the diplomat could have useful insider information on Kim Jong-un’s secretive regime. The defection is a coup for British and other western intelligence agencies. John Nilsson-Wright, the head of the Asia programme at Chatham House, said the diplomat could have useful insider information on Kim Jong-un’s secretive regime.
Related: The North Korean embassy – would you believe it's here?Related: The North Korean embassy – would you believe it's here?
“These senior officials are smart, accomplished, well-trained individuals with high levels of English. If sent abroad they don’t spend their time going to cocktail parties. They will be energetic in other activities, including using foul means or fair,” he said.“These senior officials are smart, accomplished, well-trained individuals with high levels of English. If sent abroad they don’t spend their time going to cocktail parties. They will be energetic in other activities, including using foul means or fair,” he said.
Intelligence agencies would want to grill the diplomat on Kim’s leadership, the stability of his regime and the fate of senior members of the previous government, some of whom have been purged and executed. “They would want insight into the last three or four years since he took over,” Nillson-Wright said. Intelligence agencies would want to grill Thae on Kim’s leadership, the stability of his regime and the fate of senior members of the previous government, some of whom have been purged and executed. “They would want insight into the last three or four years since he took over,” Nillson-Wright said.
Why the diplomat had defected was an open question, he said. The reasons might be personal or political or both – from wanting a better life outside North Korea in retirement to being under too much pressure. The country’s embassies are typically poor, with officials instructed to raise cash using all possible means.
Nillson-Wright described relations between the UK and North Korea as complicated and variegated. Britain has had an ambassador in Pyongyang since 2001. There is an ongoing cultural dialogue, including academic exchanges whereby North Korean students can study at Cambridge university.Nillson-Wright described relations between the UK and North Korea as complicated and variegated. Britain has had an ambassador in Pyongyang since 2001. There is an ongoing cultural dialogue, including academic exchanges whereby North Korean students can study at Cambridge university.
North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho, is a former ambassador to London, and has close ties with the current incumbent, Hyun Hak-bong. The tipoff that an official had fled came from an anonymous source inside North Korea, NK News reported on Tuesday. North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho, is a former ambassador to London, and has close ties with the current incumbent, Hyun Hak-bong. The original tipoff that an official had fled came from an anonymous source inside North Korea, NK News reported on Tuesday.
Defecting from North Korea is risky. The regime usually exacts revenge on relatives and friends at home. It has also been known to pursue defectors abroad and, if it finds them, to “mete out draconian punishment”, Nillson-Wright said.Defecting from North Korea is risky. The regime usually exacts revenge on relatives and friends at home. It has also been known to pursue defectors abroad and, if it finds them, to “mete out draconian punishment”, Nillson-Wright said.