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Biz News Korea(Eng)
North Korea’s elite diplomat in London defects to South Korea with family
- Collected
- 2016.08.18
- Distributed
- 2016.08.19
- Source
- Go Direct
Seoul’s unification ministry on Wednesday said that Thae, a 55-year-old minister who was with the embassy for a decade, is the highest-ranking diplomat to ever defect since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un came to power in 2012, dealing as a face-losing blow to the Kim regime notorious for reign of terror. Rumors have been rampant about his whereabouts after he mysteriously vanished from his post in London in mid-July.
“Thae arrived in the Republic of Korea with his wife and children and are under government protection as related organizations are taking necessary steps based on the usual (defection) procedure,” Jeong Joon-hee, a ministry spokesman said in a press briefing.
Thae was the second highest-ranking diplomat in the North Korean embassy in London after Ambassador Hyon Hak-bong, Jeong added.
The defection of Thae - a key elite who had supported the North Korean regime - is another indication of escalating disgruntlement by the elite class and the unrest of the North Korean society under the young Kim stemming from his merciless and reckless ways to strengthen hold and pursue nuclear ambition.
The ministry declined to give details of how Thae and his family arrived in South Korea for safety reasons.
The spokesman said Thae decided to defect out of “disillusion” of the Kim regime and for the sake of the future of his children.
A diverse range of North Koreans residing overseas including employees at a North Korean restaurant in China have fled to South Korea this year.
By Kim Sung-hoon and Park Dae-eui
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