At least seven North Korean diplomats – including Thae Yong Ho – defected and arrived in South Korea this year according to unnamed local officials, South Korean media outlet the JoongAng Ilbo said on Friday.

A diplomat with his family fled from Bulgaria and arrived in the South earlier this year, the JoongAng said, with other diplomats from East Asia seeking asylum in June and July.

In April, another diplomat serving as a Taekwondo instructor in Asia defected to the South, the JoongAng added, while in early July a diplomat arrived from Russia..

“We are aware of similar cases in