Top North Korean official defects over 'disgust' with Kim Jong Un

Officials in Seoul confirmed Wednesday that senior North Korean diplomat Thae Yong Ho has defected to South Korea. Thae, deputy minister at the North Korean Embassy in London, is believed to be "the highest-ranking North Korean official ever to defect," BBC reported.
Thae, who had been tasked with defending North Korean leadership's reputation, reportedly defected "because of his disgust with the government of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his yearning for South Korean democracy, and worries about the future of his children," The Associated Press reported.
The defection of someone as senior as Thae could indicate "growing internal skepticism about the strength of the Kim Jong Un regime," Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a lecturer at King's College London, told The Associated Press. Pardo also suggested Thae's defection could offer an inroad into North Korea for the U.S. and other countries. "The defection of a diplomat would allow intelligence services and military forces in other countries to learn more about the level of support that Kim Jong Un enjoys, recent developments in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, or the extent to which real economic reforms are being implemented," Pardo said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Thae and his family are under the South Korean government's protection.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Could Democrats lose the New Jersey governor’s race?
Today’s Big Question Democrat Mikie Sherrill stumbles against Republican Jack Ciattarelli
-
‘Porsche’s luxury credentials are now hanging by a thread’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Choose your own wellness adventure in Greater Palm Springs
The Week Recommends Hit the spa, try a sound bath or take a hike
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats