Deputy Ambassador of North Korea in London Defects with Family to South Korea

North Korea's deputy ambassador in London has defected to South Korea with his family according to several media news reports.

A First in Many Years

The defection of such a high ranking official is a first in  many years.

A BBC report said that the defecting diplomat is Thae Yong Ho who works as a counselor at the North Korean embassy and acts as a deputy to the North Korean ambassador.

Veteran Diplomat

Thae Yong Ho has worked in the embassy for over a decade and is prominent among the British media as the main contact for UK journalists who wish to travel and cover news in Pyongyang.  

Thae's son, Thae Kum Hyok studied at Acton High School located near the North Korean embassy. Based on the school's website, the school term finished on July 22 which was also the same period that Thae apparently abandoned North Korea and his duties as a deputy ambassador.

North Korean Embassy Silent

Reuters asked a North Korean embassy official who neither confirmed nor denied the event merely describing it as "quite sudden."

The North Korean Embassy has refused to answer any more questions.

A Rise in the Number of Defections

Thae's defection comes after the defection of twelve waitresses at a North Korean restaurant in China that took place early this year.

A South Korean Unification Ministry official told Reuters that the number of North Korean defections this year through July was 814 which was a 15 percent annual increase.

Other North Korean diplomats have defected to South Korea in the last two years including an envoy from Thailand according to Yonhap news a South Korean agency.