Another North Korean diplomat stationed in China has defected to South Korea, signaling a potential diplomatic exodus.
According to the South Korean media outlet TV Chosun on July 17, following reports of defections in Cuba and France, it has now been confirmed that a North Korean diplomat and his family have defected to South Korea from China, one of North Korea’s closest allies.
Additionally, there are reports of similar defections from North Korean diplomats in Africa, where many embassies have recently closed.
According to TV Chosun, a North Korean diplomat stationed in China, made contact with South Korean authorities in early June after deciding to defect. Following meticulous planning, he successfully arranged for his wife and children to join him in China from Pyongyang.
“The diplomat’s family left China at the end of Jun, traveling several Southeast Asian countries before finally arriving in South Korea,” a source involved in the defection process told TV Chosun.
[Top North Korean diplomat in Cuba defects to South Korea]
The resumption of flights between North Korea and China last August, after a hiatus due to COVID-19, has accelerated the recall and replacement of diplomats who had been stationed abroad for over four years.
“Diplomats stationed in China began disappearing from October last year,” another source with Knowledge of North Korean affairs told TV Chosun. The inability of these diplomats to meet foreign currency earning quotas set by Pyongyang has contributed to the spate of defections.
Ryu Hyun-woo, the former acting ambassador to Kuwait who defected to South Korea in 2019, told TV Chosun, “They call it the ‘loyalty funds,’ which can range up to $50,000 to $60,000 depending on the period. Almost half of diplomats fail to meet these targets.”
Reports also indicate that a North Korean diplomat stationed in Africa recently managed to escape. North Korea, struggling with financial shortages, has been closing embassies in Africa due to low foreign currency earnings. During this process, some diplomats chose to seek asylum rather than return to North Korea.
In response, North Korea has reportedly tightened surveillance of its diplomats. This year, any diplomat traveling abroad must be accompanied by at least one person, and passport use require pre-approval from Pyongyang.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
