North Korea brands defector as sex criminal

A commentary by the KCNA news agency did not identify the diplomat by name, but on Wednesday South Korea announced that Thae Yong Ho, who was deputy ambassador at North Korea’s embassy in London, had arrived in South Korea with his family.

Thae is the highest-level diplomat to defect from isolated North Korea to the rival, democratic South, according to the South Korean government. 

“The fugitive was ordered in June to be summoned for embezzling state funds, selling state secrets and committing child rape,” KCNA said. North Korea requested London that he be handed over, KCNA said. Instead, it said, Britain tainted its image as a law-abiding country by handing over the fugitives without passports to the South Korean puppets and neglecting its duty to protect diplomats living in its own country.