High-Profile Defection
A senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba defected to South Korea in November, marking the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to escape to the South since 2016. The South Korean spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), confirmed the defection.
Details of the Defector
The NIS confirmed an earlier report by South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, which identified the defector as Ri Il-kyu, a counsellor responsible for political affairs at the North Korean embassy in Cuba. Among Ri’s responsibilities was preventing North Korea’s rival, South Korea, and Cuba from establishing diplomatic ties. However, in February, the two countries officially established diplomatic relations.
Reasons for Defection
Ri Il-kyu cited his disillusionment with the North Korean regime and the unfair evaluation of his work as reasons for his defection. In an interview with Chosun Ilbo, Ri stated, “Every North Korean thinks at least once about living in South Korea. Disillusionment with the North Korean regime and a bleak future led me to consider defection.”
The Defection Process
Details on North Korean defections often take months to emerge due to the need for defectors to be cleared by authorities and undergo education about South Korean society and systems. Ri’s defection underscores the ongoing challenges and motivations faced by those seeking to leave North Korea for a better life in the South.
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