North Korean diplomat and family flee to South Korea

A North Korean diplomat in Cuba defected to South Korea with his family in November last year, the South Korean spy agency has said, in what would be the highest-profile defection in recent years. In a brief statement, the National Intelligence Service confirmed a South Korean newspaper’s report that Ri II Kyu, 52,

- SHWETA SHARMA

North Korean counsellor of political affairs in Cuba, defected last year.

As a counsellor, Mr Ri was tasked with blocking rival South Korea and old ally Cuba from forging diplomatic ties, Chosun Ilbo reported. The two countries established diplomatic ties in February this year, weakening Pyongyang’s thin network of allies.

Mr Ri said he did not reveal his plan even to his family until hours before he pulled off the high-risk escape. “I bought flight tickets and called my wife and kid to tell them about my decision, six hours before the defection,” he said. “I didn’t say South Korea but said, let’s live abroad.”