The defection of a North Korean senior diplomat in London poses a major problem for Pyongyang on a number of fronts — not least of which is how to publicly respond. Thae was the second-highest official in North Korea's embassy and is the most senior North Korean diplomat to defect to the South. It has also presented the colleagues and parents of the waitresses to North Korean and international media in Pyongyang to appeal for their release. North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and Seoul been working hard to apply more international pressure on the North. In 1997, the North Korean ambassador to Egypt fled, but he resettled in the United States.

Source: Fox News August 18, 2016 03:56 UTC