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.