A high-profile diplomat who defected from North Korea’s embassy in the UK earlier this year will be further integrating into South Korean society as of Friday, a South Korean lawmaker told local press on Monday.

The head of South Korea’s parliamentary intelligence committee, Lee Cheol-woo, announced that former Deputy Ambassador Thae Yong Ho was to be released from National Intelligence Service (NIS) protection.

The decision had reportedly been conveyed by Thae to Lee and intelligence committee members during a closed meeting on Monday.

Thae defected to South Korea with his wife and two sons earlier in the year and has since been under the