A North Korean “political counselor” based at the country’s embassy in Cuba recently defected to South Korea, Seoul’s intelligence service has confirmed, following the publication of a local media interview with the diplomat.

The National Intelligence Service declined to provide further details about the high-level defector to NK News, but the Chosun Ilbo reported on Tuesday that a diplomat named Ri Il Gyu worked in Cuba for nine years before abruptly leaving his post in Nov. 2023.

NK Newsanalysis of publicly available photos confirm that Ri used to work at the embassy, appearing at a meeting with the