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| The North Korean embassy in Rome. / Captured from Google Maps |
By Kim Bo-eun
North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy disappeared in early November, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed, Thursday.
The NIS reported to the National Assembly's intelligence committee about a media report that North Korean diplomat Jo Song-gil, who was based in Rome, made a request to the Italian government for protection to defect to "a Western country."
"The couple left their official residence and went into hiding early last November," Rep. Kim Min-ki of the committee told reporters after the meeting with NIS officials.
According to the NIS, Jo's term was supposed to end at the end of November 2018, but he left his official residence early November.
It said Jo began his diplomatic mission at the North Korean embassy in Rome in May 2015.
The agency also confirmed that four people including Jo worked at the embassy.
However, the NIS said it could not confirm whether the Italian government is protecting Jo and his wife, or whether Jo's children were with the couple.
It added it could not confirm in which country Jo was seeking asylum.
There was speculation he may seek to come to Seoul.
Jo, 48, was North Korea's top envoy in Italy since the country expelled former Ambassador Mun Jong-nam in response to Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test in September 2017.
North Korea and Italy established diplomatic relations in January 2000, and Pyongyang opened an embassy in Italy in July the same year.
A media report said because Jo was not the ambassador, he had kept a low profile. According to the report, Pyongyang had not been planning to fill the ambassador vacancy.
If the envoy were to defect, it would be another high-profile case following North Korea's deputy ambassador to the U.K. Thae Yong-ho who defected to South Korea in 2016.
If he defects, Jo would be the highest-level official to have defected under the Kim Jong-un regime.
It is unknown why Jo went into hiding, while it seems likely he is seeking to defect. Thae has claimed he decided to come to the South for his children.
The report said Jo may have been recalled to Pyongyang after serving his term at the embassy in Rome. He may have refused to return, considering he brought his family with him, it speculated.
North Korean authorities are known to send diplomats to overseas missions without their families due to concerns they might defect.
The NIS said it could not confirm details about Jo's family background.
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