News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
22
o
Bekaa
19
o
Keserwan
23
o
Metn
23
o
Mount Lebanon
18
o
North
24
o
South
22
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Live Coverage
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
22
o
Bekaa
19
o
Keserwan
23
o
Metn
23
o
Mount Lebanon
18
o
North
24
o
South
22
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Documentaries
Lebanon’s Centennial
News Bulletin
The Untold History
Talk Show
Series
Sports
Variety
Other
Comedy
Oldies
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Senior North Korean diplomat defected to South Korea from Cuba
World News
2024-07-16 | 01:32
High views
Share
Share
3
min
Senior North Korean diplomat defected to South Korea from Cuba
A senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba defected with his wife and child to South Korea in November, South Korean media reports said on Tuesday, becoming the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to escape to the South since 2016.
Before fleeing to the South, Ri Il Kyu, 52, told the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo he was a counselor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba. Yonhap News Agency also reported Ri had defected to the South, citing an anonymous government source.
The South's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, declined to comment on the reports, citing privacy issues.
Among Ri's jobs at the embassy was to block North Korea's rival South Korea and old ally Cuba from forging diplomatic ties, Chosun Ilbo reported. In February, the two countries established diplomatic relations.
Ri said he flew out of Cuba with his family but he did not elaborate further on how he pulled off the high-risk escape.
"I bought flight tickets and called my wife and kid to tell them about my decision, six hours before the defection. I didn't say South Korea, but said, let's live abroad," he said.
He told the newspaper he had decided to defect over disillusionment with the regime and unfair evaluation of his work.
Ri said he made a final decision to run when his request to travel to Mexico for medical treatment was denied last year, adding that his parents and parents-in-law who might face reprisals for his defection had passed away.
"I hope that all former North Korean diplomats will join forces and work hard for the unification movement to realize the dream of North Korean officials and people to have their children live freely in South Korea," Tae said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
"Welcome, Counsellor Ilkyu!" said Tae, adding that Ri was a former rival in table tennis games at the foreign ministry.
Reuters
World News
North Korea
Cuba
South Korea
Diplomat
Next
200 more Kenyan police leave for Haiti mission
Trump supporters see his escape from death as God's work
Previous
Related Articles
d-none hideMe
0
World News
2024-11-13
South Korea spy agency says North Korea troops 'engaging in combat' in Russia's Kursk
World News
2024-11-13
South Korea spy agency says North Korea troops 'engaging in combat' in Russia's Kursk
0
World News
2024-11-04
EU and South Korea urge withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russia's war with Ukraine
World News
2024-11-04
EU and South Korea urge withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russia's war with Ukraine
0
World News
2024-10-29
Zelenskyy says discussed North Korean troops aiding Russia with South Korean President
World News
2024-10-29
Zelenskyy says discussed North Korean troops aiding Russia with South Korean President
0
World News
2024-10-21
South Korea says summons Russian ambassador over North Korea troop deployment
World News
2024-10-21
South Korea says summons Russian ambassador over North Korea troop deployment
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
06:03
Israel warfare methods 'consistent with genocide': UN committee
Israel-Gaza War Updates
06:03
Israel warfare methods 'consistent with genocide': UN committee
0
World News
05:52
Kremlin says Putin and Saudi Crown Prince discussed war in Ukraine
World News
05:52
Kremlin says Putin and Saudi Crown Prince discussed war in Ukraine
0
World News
05:06
'Our doors are still open': Azerbaijan COP29 negotiator after France spat
World News
05:06
'Our doors are still open': Azerbaijan COP29 negotiator after France spat
0
Middle East News
04:40
UN nuclear chief says achieving 'results' with Iran vital to avoid 'war'
Middle East News
04:40
UN nuclear chief says achieving 'results' with Iran vital to avoid 'war'
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
Middle East News
2024-07-31
Pakistan condemns killing of Hamas chief as 'reckless act'
Middle East News
2024-07-31
Pakistan condemns killing of Hamas chief as 'reckless act'
0
Middle East News
2024-09-24
Israeli Army Radio reports multiple explosions near Safed, Israel
Middle East News
2024-09-24
Israeli Army Radio reports multiple explosions near Safed, Israel
0
Lebanon News
2024-10-01
Israeli army destroys offensive tunnels in Lebanon, reports Channel 14
Lebanon News
2024-10-01
Israeli army destroys offensive tunnels in Lebanon, reports Channel 14
0
Lebanon News
2024-11-09
Power generator fire ignites cars in Hamra parking lot, video shows
Lebanon News
2024-11-09
Power generator fire ignites cars in Hamra parking lot, video shows
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
08:22
Israeli airstrikes cause massive destruction to Nabatieh market in South Lebanon (Video)
Lebanon News
08:22
Israeli airstrikes cause massive destruction to Nabatieh market in South Lebanon (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-11-12
Hezbollah shares footage of rocket attack on Israeli bulldozer in South Lebanon's Kfarkela
Lebanon News
2024-11-12
Hezbollah shares footage of rocket attack on Israeli bulldozer in South Lebanon's Kfarkela
0
Lebanon News
2024-11-12
Israeli airstrikes cause destruction in Nabatieh market, South Lebanon (Video)
Lebanon News
2024-11-12
Israeli airstrikes cause destruction in Nabatieh market, South Lebanon (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-11-10
Israeli airstrike on Almat, Jbeil District, kills 21 including children; search operations ongoing (Video)
Lebanon News
2024-11-10
Israeli airstrike on Almat, Jbeil District, kills 21 including children; search operations ongoing (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-11-09
Power generator fire ignites cars in Hamra parking lot, video shows
Lebanon News
2024-11-09
Power generator fire ignites cars in Hamra parking lot, video shows
0
Lebanon News
2024-11-09
Fire breaks out near Ras Beirut; black smoke engulfs area (Video)
Lebanon News
2024-11-09
Fire breaks out near Ras Beirut; black smoke engulfs area (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-11-07
LBCI reports damage in Zebdine, Nabatieh in South Lebanon caused by Israeli strikes
Lebanon News
2024-11-07
LBCI reports damage in Zebdine, Nabatieh in South Lebanon caused by Israeli strikes
0
Lebanon News
2024-11-07
Israeli airstrike damages homes in Harouf, South Lebanon (Video)
Lebanon News
2024-11-07
Israeli airstrike damages homes in Harouf, South Lebanon (Video)
0
News Bulletin Reports
2024-11-06
David Schenker tells LBCI: US might intensify pressure on Iran, Lebanese government must uphold Resolution 1701
News Bulletin Reports
2024-11-06
David Schenker tells LBCI: US might intensify pressure on Iran, Lebanese government must uphold Resolution 1701
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
Lebanon News
01:37
Israeli army issues evacuation warning to Chouaifet El Aamroussieh and Ghobeiry residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
Lebanon News
01:37
Israeli army issues evacuation warning to Chouaifet El Aamroussieh and Ghobeiry residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
2
Lebanon News
12:47
Israel's army publishes evacuation warning for Haret Hreik and Borj El Brajneh residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
Lebanon News
12:47
Israel's army publishes evacuation warning for Haret Hreik and Borj El Brajneh residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
3
Lebanon News
14:01
Renewed airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs amid Israeli evacuation warnings
Lebanon News
14:01
Renewed airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs amid Israeli evacuation warnings
4
Lebanon News
16:35
Israel's military posts evacuation warning for Haret Hreik and Borj El Brajneh residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
Lebanon News
16:35
Israel's military posts evacuation warning for Haret Hreik and Borj El Brajneh residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
5
Lebanon News
04:54
Israeli army issues evacuation warning to Haret Hreik and Borj El Brajneh residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
Lebanon News
04:54
Israeli army issues evacuation warning to Haret Hreik and Borj El Brajneh residents in Beirut's southern suburbs
6
Lebanon News
02:12
Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs for a third day following evacuation warning
Lebanon News
02:12
Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs for a third day following evacuation warning
7
Lebanon News
08:40
Israel's army warns Ghobeiry residents in Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate immediately
Lebanon News
08:40
Israel's army warns Ghobeiry residents in Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate immediately
8
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
Israel escalates ground operations in Lebanon, seeking to 'reshape' Hezbollah's power balance
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
Israel escalates ground operations in Lebanon, seeking to 'reshape' Hezbollah's power balance
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More