North Korean diplomat based in London defects

A senior North Korean diplomat based in London has defected to South Korea, becoming one of the highest Northern officials to do so, South Korea said today. Thae Yong Ho, minister at the North Korean Embassy in London, decided to defect because of his disgust with the government of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, his yearning for South Korean democracy, and worries about the future of his children, said Jeong Joon-Hee, a spokesman for Seoul’s Unification Ministry. Jeong said Thae was the second-highest official in North Korea’s embassy. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, senior lecturer in international relations at King’s College London, said a diplomatic defection “could prove very valuable to South Korea, the U.S. and other countries” because of the intelligence Thae might be able to share.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.