N. Korean Official in London ‘Defects’

A North Korean deputy ambassador and his family have defected, Reuters reports. The official, who was based in London, followed “a scrupulous plan” and was about to land “in a third country as an asylum seeker,” according to a South Korean newspaper. If confirmed, veteran diplomat Thae Yong Ho’s abandonment of his post would be one of the most high-profile defections in years. “If it is appropriate to give a response, then you might hear about our response,” an official at the North Korean embassy in London told Reuters.