North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho, who was reported Tuesday to have defected from his post from the DPRK’s London embassy, is in South Korea, the Ministry of Unification (MoU) said on Wednesday afternoon during a special press briefing.

“The North’s Minister Thae Yong-ho, based in England, recently arrived in the South with his wife and children,” Unification Ministry spokesperson, Jeong Joon-hee, said.

“This is the highest profile diplomat among those who fled from the North,” the spokesperson added. “We ask your understanding that we can’t confirm the details, including the route.”

Thae, who held a Minister level position in London