In his first televised interview since his defection became public last week, former North Korean diplomat Ryu Hyeon-woo defended his decision to escape with his family and pleaded for the safety of remaining family members in the DPRK.

Ryu was previously interviewed by South Korea’s Maeil Kyungje on Jan. 25, which broke the story about his Sept. 2019 defection from his post at the DPRK Embassy in Kuwait. 

He made his first on-camera appearance this week from South Korea, telling CNNthat he escaped with his wife and teenage daughter but still feared for the safety of his three siblings