N Korea Strengthens Surveillance Over Diplomats, Business Staff After Defection

North Korean authorities reportedly tightened surveillance measures in regard to the country's diplomats and business personnel working abroad, following a recent defection of a senior diplomat.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Earlier in August, Thae Yong Ho, a high-ranking diplomat from the North Korean embassy to the United Kingdom, defected to South Korea with his wife and children.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent security agents abroad to tighten control over the representatives of the diplomatic corps and economic community, the Yonhap news agency reported citing a source familiar with the state of affairs in Pyongyang.

The media outlet added that Kim ordered to root out any possibility of people working in the diplomatic missions and restaurants to leave their posts without a permit.

In April, more than 10 North Korean workers employed in a restaurant in the Chinese city of Ningbo escaped to South Korea.