High-profile defector Tae Yong-ho has been appointed secretary-general of South Korea’s presidential advisory council on unification, marking the first time a North Korean escapee has been offered a senior government role.

The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council is a presidential consultative body that advises the president on formulating and implementing unification policy.

The secretary-general oversees administrative affairs and supervises the council. Tae is expected to give the president advisory proposals on unification policy and lead the provincial assembly and central committee, which are composed of domestic and overseas Koreans. 

The Presidential Office statedon Thursday that Tae, with his “vivid living