A former North Korean diplomat who last year was reported to have defected from the country’s embassy in Rome is believed to be safe and under protection in a third country, an official from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) was reported to have said Thursday.

Speaking following a close-door hearing with NIS officials, National Assembly Intelligence Committee lawmaker Lee Eun-jae told reporters she “heard the answer” that the former chargé d’affaires for the DPRK embassy in Rome Jo Song Gil “is under protection somewhere,” according to the DongA Ilbo.

She reportedly added that it was not disclosed which