Thae Yong Ho, former deputy ambassador of the North Korean embassy in London, is said to be a “criminal”.
North Korean officials claim that Thae Yong Ho, former deputy ambassador of the North Korean embassy in London who defected to South Korea with his wife and children, has under investigation for “intentionally leaking secrets, embezzling state property” and a “sex offense.”
According to CNN, the comments were reported Saturday by the state-run news agency, KCNA.
Jeong Joon-hee, spokesman at the ministry, told a news conference: “They are currently under government protection and relevant institutions are going ahead with necessary procedures as usual”.
His main mission in London had been to spread positive perceptions of the North Korean leadership and that Kim Jong Un had been misreported and misunderstood. In several media contacts, Thae spoke publicly about media coverage of North Korea, including the press behavior of sensationalizing stories about Pyongyang.
But ironically, he left his post because of dissatisfaction and being unhappy with the regime in Pyongyang and also for the future of his child.
The defection comes after North Korea responded angrily to a US plan to place an advanced missile defense system in South Korea.
The North has warned of unspecified retaliation and fired several missiles into the sea earlier this month. But Jeong declined to give details on the timing of Thae’s arrival or his itinerary.
North Korea accused the UK of handing over Thae to South Korea and “instigating the fight” between North Korea and South Korea.
The diplomat left for the sake of his family and because he was “tired of Kim Jong Un’s regime”, Jeong said on Wednesday.
The defection was a “unique situation,” and could lead to threats of retaliation from North Korea, said Sokeel Park, director of research at Liberty in North Korea, a California-based group that helps North Korean refugees.
As with all high-profile defections, Park said the family of the diplomat still left in North Korea could possibly face punishment.
“At the very least there’s going to be suspicion and more surveillance on those family members. This could include any brothers and sisters of the diplomat who defected, extending to cousins and extended relatives,” he said.
Park said Thae belonged to an elite family in North Korea and is the son of a high-profile general.
