Biological weapons expert reportedly flees North Korea with gigabytes of data on human experiments

A North Korean biological weapons scientist has reportedly defected to Finland, taking with him 15 gigabytes of data detailing experiments on humans.

The 47-year-old — identified only by his surname Lee — fled a research facility near North Korea's border with China in June, The Independent reports. Citing a humans rights group, South Korean newspaper Yonhap says he plans to present his data to the EU in July. There is reason for caution, however: Neither his defection nor his planned presentation have been confirmed by European authorities.

Greg Scarlatoiun, director of the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, reportedly told a Finnish newspaper that the story is at least plausible.

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"We have been told similar stories in the past that human experiments are carried out in prison camps," he said, adding that the experiments in question likely involved chemical weapons.