"North Korean Interpreter Defects via South Korean Embassy in Mongolia," Japanese Media Reports

Defection in Mongolia in Late August

On October 25, Japan’s Kyodo News, citing diplomatic sources, reported that a North Korean interpreter defected via the South Korean Embassy when a North Korean delegation led by Tae Hyong Chol, President of the Academy of Social Sciences, visited Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in late August.

The interpreter’s affiliation and official position have not been disclosed. However, Kyodo noted that, given the North Korean authorities’ strict restrictions on overseas travel for its citizens, the individual is believed to have held a certain level of social status.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Regarding the matter, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in response to an inquiry that it was “not in a position to comment,” according to Kyodo News.

Kyodo News further reported, “North Korea has issued an order to replace its ambassador to Mongolia,” adding, “It is unclear whether this is directly related to the incident, but it is possible that someone has been held responsible.”

At the time of the interpreter’s defection, President Tae was visiting Mongolia as the head of an academic institution for the first time in seven years. During his visit, he explained North Korea’s policy of ‘hostile two states’ and its stance on abandoning unification, seeking support for these views.

At that time, North Korea was working to strengthen ties with friendly nations and tighten internal control ahead of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party on October 10.

It is reported that North Korean media have not covered President Tae’s visit to Mongolia at all.

Kyodo News stated, “Under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, defections among diplomats and other elites continue. Although North Korea designates South Korea as an enemy state, not a few elites with access to outside information harbor doubts about the regime’s closed system.”

The report went on to introduce the cases of former lawmaker Tae Yong Ho, who was a minister at the North Korean Embassy in the United Kingdom and defected to South Korea in 2016, and Ri Il Gyu, who was a political counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba and defected to South Korea in 2023.