Meaningful

A North Korean Diplomat Managed a Rare Defection: a Flight Out of Cuba

A diplomat and his family in Havana executed the first such government-official escape in roughly five years

SEOUL - A North Korean diplomat stationed in Cuba defected to South Korea with his family late last year, officials announced this week. This rare escape from the repressive regime comes as its leader, Kim Jong Un, intensifies efforts to prevent people from fleeing the country.

Ri Il Kyu, a North Korean counselor of political affairs in Havana, fled to South Korea in November, as confirmed by Seoul's spy agency following local reports. This marks the first such defection in five years. While it has become increasingly challenging for ordinary North Koreans to escape the isolated nation, the few who do manage are primarily diplomats and workers stationed abroad. They often choose to defect rather than return to Pyongyang, where stringent border controls make escape nearly impossible.

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