Top North Korean Diplomat Defects to South Korea, Citing Disillusionment

Ri Il Kyu, a senior North Korean diplomat stationed in Cuba, defected to South Korea with his family. He becomes the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to defect since 2016. Ri cited disillusionment with the North Korean regime as a key motivator. His defection included significant risks and followed strict planning.

Ri Il Kyu, a senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba, defected to South Korea with his family, becoming the highest-ranking official to escape to the South since 2016, South Korean media reported on Tuesday.

Ri, who was a counsellor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba, told Chosun Ilbo he fled due to disillusionment with the regime and unfair evaluations of his work. His defection came after his request to travel to Mexico for medical treatment was denied.

Details of North Korean defections often take time to surface, as defectors undergo authorities' clearance and South Korean societal education. Last year, 196 North Koreans defected to Seoul, a significant drop from a decade ago.