A senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba has fled to South Korea, marking the highest-ranking defection since 2016, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Details of the defection
The NIS confirmed reports that Ri Il Kyu, a North Korean counselor of political affairs in Cuba, defected to South Korea with his family in November of last year. The agency declined to provide additional details.
Reasons behind the defection
Ri cited disillusionment with North Korea’s political system, an unfair job evaluation by Pyongyang’s foreign ministry, and the ministry’s disapproval of his plans to seek medical treatment in Mexico for neural damage. He noted that Cuban hospitals lacked the necessary medical equipment due to international sanctions.
Diplomatic context
Ri’s defection came just months before Cuba and South Korea established diplomatic ties in February. Before his defection, Ri had been working to prevent Cuba from opening diplomatic relations with South Korea.
Increasing defections
Seoul reports a steady increase in highly educated North Koreans with professional backgrounds escaping to South Korea. However, defections from North Korea’s ruling elite remain rare. The last significant defection was in 2016 when Tae Yongho, then a minister at the North Korean Embassy in London, fled to South Korea to escape a “miserable” life for his children and to avoid witnessing further executions and nuclear pursuits by Kim Jong Un.
