North Korean diplomat in Cuba recently defected to South, Seoul confirms | NK News
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December 22, 2024

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North Korean diplomat in Cuba recently defected to South, Seoul confirms

In media interview, Ri Il Gyu says he grew disillusioned during COVID and that Kim Jong Un distrusted foreign ministry

A North Korean “political counselor” based at the country’s embassy in Cuba recently defected to South Korea, Seoul’s intelligence service has confirmed, following the publication of a local media interview with the diplomat.

The National Intelligence Service declined to provide further details about the high-level defector to NK News, but the Chosun Ilbo reported on Tuesday that a diplomat named Ri Il Gyu worked in Cuba for nine years before abruptly leaving his post in Nov. 2023.

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