Ri Il-kyu gave an interview explaining his decision. The diplomat arrived from Cuba in South Korea with his wife and children. His escape coincided with behind-the-scenes negotiations between ...

This trend may signal growing skepticism among North Korea’s elite, potentially undermining the foundation of Kim Jong Un’s regime.

Former diplomat Ri Il Kyu, who fled his Cuba posting in November last year, said Kim Jong-un would use Trump to seek a deal over its nuclear weapons programme. Mr Ri said Pyongyang would seek a ...