Relations between North Korea and the United Kingdom were established in 2003. Since then, North Korea has its embassy in London and vice versa. Recently its been reported that one of the senior diplomats at the London embassy has vanished. Officials from Seul confirm now that Mr. Thae Yong-ho and his family have been found in South Korea. Mr. Thae is known to be the first diplomat from North Korea of such high ranking to commit this kind of act. His main task in the UK was to improve the image of his country.  

Jeong Joon-hee, a spokesman at the South Korean unification ministry has reported that Thae was ‘sick and tired of the Kim Jong-un regime, yearned for a liberal and democratic country and was worried about his children’s future’. British, as well as other western intelligence agencies, would like to question Mr. Thea. It is believed he is carrying significant information that would enable the west to have a better insight into the stability and proceedings of the North Korean state. Mr. Thea has doubtlessly committed an act of great risk and bravery. It is a well-known fact that North Korean authorities may now revenge on his relatives or even try to capture and punish Thae and his family. However, it is also a sign that defections within South Korea grow, reaching high-class North Koreans. It might consequently mean that the regime could in the future crumble from the inside.

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