A high-ranking North Korean diplomat stationed in Cuba defected and entered South Korea last November.
On the 16th, sources from relevant ministries revealed that Ri Il-gyu, a 52-year-old counselor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba, defected to South Korea last November along with his wife and children. Ri is a seasoned diplomat with significant experience in Latin America, having served two terms in Cuba. Notably, in a surprising move this February, South Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba, historically known as North Korea’s “brother country.”
The last confirmed defections of North Korean diplomats occurred in July 2019, about four years ago. Jo Song Gil, the acting ambassador to Italy, and Ryu Hyun Woo, the acting ambassador to Kuwait, both defected then.
According to the South Korean Ministry of Unification, there were about 10 elite-class defectors last year, the highest number since 2017. With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea has replaced its overseas diplomats, leading to a series of defections from North Korean elites around the world.
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