Chain Defection Movements... North Korean Elite Defectors Show Different Patterns Compared to the Past

North Korean Diplomat Recently Defects from Northern Europe Posting
Defection Driven by Discontent with Regime and Family Issues

Rep. Taeyongho of the People Power Party recently reported that there have been ongoing movements of North Korean diplomats and overseas workers attempting to defect or seek asylum, and it has been conveyed that a North Korean diplomat who was stationed in Europe recently defected.

According to government officials on the 9th, a few weeks ago, a North Korean diplomat stationed in Europe defected. The country where the defector was stationed and the number of accompanying defectors have not been confirmed.

The North Korean flag fluttering in front of the North Korean embassy in Malaysia. The photo is not related to specific expressions in the article. / Photo by Reuters·Yonhap News

There appears to be a sharp increase in defections among North Korean elites recently. Previously, there was speculation that the number of defections among elite groups such as diplomats who can provide information increased as the number of recipients of the reward money (報勞金), given to North Korean defectors who provide 'high-level intelligence,' rose significantly.

According to the '2014-2023 North Korean Defector Reward Payment Status' received by Rep. Kim Sang-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea from the Ministry of Unification on the 14th of last month, the Ministry of Unification paid a total of 398 million KRW in reward money to 64 defectors last year.

The government does not disclose specific reasons for the reward payments, making it difficult to accurately determine the background of the increase in recipients. However, since the reward money is paid after government review when valuable information or equipment (including goods) that benefits national interests is provided, it is possible to speculate that many of the defectors entering the country were elites or military personnel such as diplomats or overseas workers.

There are also forecasts that a defection rush may occur in the future. With the easing of COVID-19 and the expectation that North Korea’s borders will reopen, a large-scale replacement of overseas personnel is anticipated, which could lead to continued defections of diplomats and others who do not wish to return.

Hwang Jang-yeop and Taeyongho... Why Do North Korean Elites Defect?

Former North Korean Workers' Party Secretary Hwang Jang-yop holding a press conference after defection (left). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In the early 1990s, most North Korean residents defected for livelihood reasons, but since then, political defections and defections for improved quality of life have also increased. In 1997, Hwang Jang-yeop, a former top official of the Workers' Party of Korea, defected and sought asylum due to dissatisfaction with the North Korean regime. In 2016, Taeyongho, then North Korean deputy ambassador to the UK (now a People Power Party lawmaker), in 2017, Cho Sung-gil, acting ambassador to Italy, and in 2019, Ryu Hyun-woo, acting ambassador to Kuwait, also decided to defect due to disillusionment with the North Korean regime and issues related to their children.

Senior Researcher Oh Kyung-seop of the Korea Institute for National Unification explained that disillusionment with the North Korean regime, pressure to earn foreign currency, and issues related to children are the backgrounds of defections. On the 9th on Yonhap News TV, Oh said, "(North Korean diplomats) often feel disgust or disillusionment with the North Korean regime because they experience democracy and human rights being well guaranteed abroad," adding, "The North Korean authorities may impose pressure such as holding them accountable or requiring them to earn foreign currency and remit it to North Korea."

He also said, "(North Korea) does not provide diplomats with sufficient living expenses," and "Many live bleakly due to concerns about their children's future and family livelihood." He added, "Especially when they have to return to North Korea, these concerns inevitably come to mind," and said, "Former diplomat Taeyongho also decided to defect because of his children's future."

It is highly likely that more North Korean diplomats who have defected have settled in South Korea than is publicly known. Rep. Taeyongho recently stated on Facebook, "It is understood that additional movements of North Korean diplomats or overseas workers attempting to defect or seek asylum are continuing," and added, "I am often surprised when juniors whom I thought were still in Pyongyang suddenly appear in front of me in Seoul after defecting."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.