Ex-North Korean Diplomat Reveals Dark Truths About Kim Jong Un’s Dictatorship and the Future of North Korea

On the 26th, Ri Il Kyu, a defector diplomat, will give a special lecture at a unification research meeting led by the ruling party. This will be Ri’s first official appearance since his defection was made public last November.

Political sources indicate that Ri will speak at the National Assembly member research group, the North Korea and Unification Forum. His lecture will cover topics such as “Third Generation Succession and Isolated Diplomacy.” In a recent media interview, Ri discussed North Korea’s potential fourth dynastic succession, stating, “There has been no lasting dictatorship. Our responsibility is to expedite its collapse rather than wait for it to occur, which will inevitably happen.” During his lecture, Ri is expected to offer candid insights on Kim Jong Un and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae.

Ri is the fourth North Korean diplomat to officially defect since Kim Jong Un came to power in 2012. He holds the highest rank among North Korean diplomats who have defected to South Korea since former lawmaker Tae Yong Ho’s defection in 2016. Ri’s primary mission was to prevent diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba, but he reportedly decided to defect when he realized he could not fulfill that task. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) official stated, “As the Democratic Party blindly ignores the human rights of North Korean citizens and prevents the establishment of the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, we plan to invite Ri to the National Assembly to reveal the reality.”

The North Korea and Unification group is chaired by Representative Kwon Young Se, a five-term lawmaker who was the first Minister of Unification under President Yoon Suk Yeol. Kim Ki Woong, the first Vice Minister of Unification in the Yoon administration, leads the research efforts. The group also includes lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party, such as Park Dae Chul, Shin Sung Bum, Jeong Jeom Sig, Kwon Young Jin, Seo Il Jun, Ihn Yo Han, Yoo Young Ha, Jeong Yeon Wook, and Park Sung Hoon. Cho Jeong Sik from the Democratic Party is also a member.

Kim Ki Woong, known for his expertise in North Korean affairs, reportedly worked hard to secure Ri’s participation. Kim began his public service career as a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Unification in 1990 and has dealt with North Korean issues on the front lines for over 30 years. Since entering the 22nd National Assembly, he has proposed amendments to the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act and the North Korean Human Rights Act to expedite the establishment of the North Korean Human Rights Foundation. Despite the North Korean Human Rights Act being passed by the National Assembly in 2016 with bipartisan support, the establishment of its foundation has been stalled for eight years. The Democratic Party has delayed recommending board members from the opposition, preventing the foundation from being launched.

The PPP plans to spearhead initiatives on unification and North Korean human rights, drawing from Yoon’s “August 15 Unification Doctrine” in his Liberation Day address. On August 15, Yoon stated, “When we establish a free democratic unification state across the Korean Peninsula, where the people are the masters, we will achieve complete liberation.” He also outlined seven key measures to advance unification and improve North Korean residents’ rights and freedoms.