In a significant blow to North Korea, Ri Il-kyu, a senior diplomat based in Cuba, defected to South Korea in November. This marks the highest-ranking defection since 2016 and comes at a time of increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The defection of Ri, who was responsible for political affairs at Pyongyang's embassy in Cuba, was confirmed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS). Ri's decision to flee was driven by disillusionment with the North Korean regime and dissatisfaction with his work evaluation, as reported by Chosun Ilbo. He stated, "Every North Korean thinks at least once about living in South Korea. Disillusionment with the North Korean regime and a bleak future led me to consider defection."
Ri's responsibilities included preventing diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba, a mission he failed to accomplish as the two countries established ties in February. His role had previously earned him a commendation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for negotiating the release of a North Korean ship detained in Panama in 2013.
Ri's defection was a carefully orchestrated move. He bought flight tickets and informed his wife and child only six hours before their escape. "I didn't say South Korea, but said, let's live abroad," Ri recounted. He cited the denial of a request to travel to Mexico for medical treatment as a pivotal moment in his decision to defect.
The process of defecting from North Korea is fraught with danger. Defectors face severe punishment, including death, if caught. This risk, along with stricter border controls and high broker fees, has led to a significant decrease in the number of defectors. In 2023, only 196 North Koreans successfully defected to South Korea, down from 2,700 a decade ago.
Ri's defection follows a series of high-profile escapes by North Korean diplomats, including Tae Yong-ho, the former deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom in 2016, Jo Song-gil, the acting ambassador to Italy in 2019, and Ryu Hyun-woo, the acting ambassador to Kuwait in 2021. These defections highlight the growing discontent within North Korea's diplomatic ranks.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has promised better financial support for defectors and tax incentives for companies hiring them. At a recent ceremony for the inaugural North Korean Defectors' Day, Yoon emphasized the importance of supporting those who risk everything to escape the oppressive regime.
North Korea has been struggling under the weight of international sanctions, leading to the closure of several embassies. Despite this, North Korea maintains an embassy in Cuba, although its ambassador returned home in March.
The defection of Ri Il-kyu comes at a critical time. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been escalating, with North Korea launching missiles and conducting balloon campaigns as retaliatory actions against South Korean activists. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un, recently issued warnings to South Korea, promising "gruesome" consequences if the leaflet-sending activities continued.
This high-level defection underscores the internal challenges facing the North Korean regime. While Kim Jong-un's grip on power remains firm, the increasing number of defections from among the elite signals growing discontent. "This high-level defection adds insult to injury for North Korea, as Ri was instrumental in representing Pyongyang's interests in Havana," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. He added, "The Kim regime is no doubt taking measures to make it more difficult for diplomats overseas to defect, but increased repression is likely to further isolate Pyongyang and may actually encourage more defections."
Moon Seong Mook, an expert with the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, echoed these sentiments, noting that while the defection of diplomats like Ri may not lead to an immediate collapse of the regime, it deals a significant blow to Kim Jong-un's leadership.
AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
