A North Korean diplomat in Cuba defected to South Korea in November, a possible blow to leader Kim

Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s spy agency says a North Korea diplomat based in Cuba has defected to South Korea. The National Intelligence Service said Tuesday that media reports on the defection of a North Korean counselor of political affairs in Cuba are true. It gave no further details, and North Korea didn’t immediately respond. South Korea’s mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported earlier Tuesday that diplomat Ri Il Kyu fled to South Korea with his wife and children in November. About 34,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. North Korea has previously expressed fury over some high-profile defections by accusing South Korea of kidnapping or enticing its citizens to defect.