A North Korean Diplomat from Russia defects to South Korea

A Russia-based North Korean diplomat sought asylum in South Korea with his family. In late July, he first defected to Southeast Asia carrying large amount of foreign currency. He then entered South Korea through an unknown route. Officials have not yet fully investigated the exact course of his defection. While stationed in Vladivostok, the diplomat worked as a trade officer in a North Korean consular office and took charge of shipping necessary items to Pyongyang. According to Radio Freedom Asia, a non-profit news corporation, the diplomat decided to defect because he could not pay taxes to Pyongyang. Ever since Moscow expressed its support of the UN resolution that toughened economic sanctions on Pyongyang, many North Korean diplomats in Russia experienced difficulty with raising money. He also claimed that a series of executions of high-level officials in North Korea was a major factor in his decision to escape.

Meanwhile, the defections of its elite officials, including high-profile diplomat Thae Yong-ho and the third secretary Kim Chol-song, have caused Pyongyang to tighten its control of government officials. Recently, North Korea began to conduct investigations on its personnel in overseas bases.