CUBA - Kim Jong Un's 'Cuba Expert' Fled North Korean Regime Ends Up In South Korea | Benzinga
A North Korean diplomat and his family, under Kim Jong Un‘s regime, have defected from Cuba to South Korea. This is the first defection of its kind in five years, occurring against a backdrop of growing challenges for ordinary North Koreans attempting to flee their country.
What Happened: Ri Il Kyu, a counselor of political affairs for North Korea in Havana, made the move to South Korea in November, as confirmed by Seoul’s intelligence agency, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Ri, who had been working at the North Korean embassy in Cuba, expressed his disillusionment with the political system of North Korea. He, along with his wife and children, boarded a plane to South Korea without informing his family of their destination.
Defections by North Korean elites have been on the rise, while ordinary citizens find it increasingly difficult to flee. The pandemic led to a significant decrease in ...