North Korean diplomat at London embassy ‘defects to third country’
The DPRK Embassy made belated attempts to figure out the diplomat’s whereabouts, but has failed, according to South Korean media reports
The DPRK embassy in London
A diplomat at the North Korean embassy in London who had reportedly lived in the UK for 10 years with his wife and family, has defected to another country, according to unconfirmed media reports.
The diplomat left the embassy, based in Ealing, west London, earlier this month for a “third country”, reports in the South Korean media say.
“A Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) diplomat in London is going through procedures to seek asylum in a third country,” a report in the South Korean daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo said.
“The DPRK Embassy made belated attempts to figure out the diplomat’s whereabouts, but has failed,” the paper’s report added, citing an anonymous source.
The paper said that in this context “a third country” means one which is not either North or South Korea.
“A high-level defection, if confirmed, will be deeply embarrassing for the regime,” said John Nilsson-Wright, an expert on Asian affairs at the London-based Chatham House think tank.
“London has always been an important diplomatic priority for the DPRK given the amount of personnel stationed there and the considerable resources devoted by the regime to maintaining its presence there,” he added.
“The intelligence benefits to the UK and its allies from such a defection are likely to prove valuable.”
