Senior North Korean Diplomat Defects to South Korea

A senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba, Ri Il Kyu, has defected to South Korea with his family, citing disillusionment with North Korea's political system and inadequate medical facilities in Cuba. This defection, confirmed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service, is part of a growing trend of high-profile North Korean defections. Ri's defection occurred before South Korea and Cuba established diplomatic ties in February, which experts believe was a political setback for North Korea.