April 19, 2024
Evergreen

What is life like as a North Korean diplomat in Vietnam?

Defector Han Jin Myung discusses work as a DPRK diplomat - and the difficulties of life in the South

There are about ten "high-profile" North Korean defectors living in South Korea, hired by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) as research fellows studying national security affairs, using their unique understanding to assist the ROK's intelligence services in the fight against the North.

Until about three days before our meeting, one of these NIS-affiliated defectors was Han Jin Myung, a former North Korean diplomat who served at the North Korean embassy in Vietnam as a second secretary for two years before defecting in January 2015.

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