In a bold move last November, Ri Il Gyu, North Korea’s No.2 diplomat in Cuba, made the decision to flee to South Korea, leaving behind the repressive and corrupt regime of his homeland. Ri meticulously planned his escape, purchasing plane tickets for his family without their knowledge until the last moment.
His high-profile defection, which was only recently made public, has likely unsettled North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as it may inspire other diplomats to follow suit, potentially weakening Kim's hold on the country's elites.
