A former North Korean diplomat has won a parliamentary seat in one of the poshest districts of South Korea.&nbsp;

Thae Yong Ho, who fled from a London embassy four year ago and defected to South, was Pyongyang's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom where he used to manage secret funds of Kim Jong Un.&nbsp;

Thae was contesting from Opposition conservative party from Seoul's Gangman district and defeated a four-time ruling lawmaker with a margin of more than 20 per cent.&nbsp;

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"I was dearly afraid if the Gangnam residents would take a guy from the North," he said during his acceptance speech uploaded on his YouTube channel, as his supporters gathered in his campaign office and chanting his name.

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"But so many people here gave me strength - they held my hand, welcomed me to Gangnam and promised to vote for me," Thae added.&nbsp;

Gangnam is a wealthy region known for its luxury homes, boutiques and gained recognition from musician Psy's 2012 K-pop hit "Gangnam Style".

With this win, Thae became the first North Korean refugee to get elected to serve in representing a constituency. Cho Myung-chul, a former professor in North Korea, earlier worked as a lawmaker from 2012-16 after getting a party endorsement, but without a constituency.&nbsp;

In this elections, the North Korean defectors targetted President Moon Jae-in for his policies against Pyongyang as they complain of ignoring human rights, muzzling anti-Pyongyang protests to reconcile with Kim Jong Un.&nbsp;

The state-run media in North Korea called Thae a "human scum" and criminal after his defection and accused him of embezzling state funds and sexually assaulting a minor.&nbsp;

Thae flatly denied the accusations and vowed to continue carrying out political activities in South Korea.&nbsp;

"I had risked my life to come to the Republic of Korea seeking free democracy and values in market economy," Thae said.

"I will solve regional issues with the market principles ... while pushing for North Korea policy that better reflects the reality there and matches the pride of the South Korean citizens."

(With Reuters inputs) 
&nbsp;

A former North Korean diplomat has won a parliamentary seat in one of the poshest districts of South Korea. Thae Yong Ho, who fled from a London embassy four year ago and defected to South, was Pyongyang's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom where he used to manage secret funds of Kim Jong Un.

A former North Korean diplomat has won a parliamentary seat in one of the poshest districts of South Korea. Thae Yong Ho, who fled from a London embassy four year ago and defected to South, was Pyongyang's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom where he used to manage secret funds of Kim Jong Un. Thae was contesting from Opposition conservative party from Seoul's Gangman district and defeated a four-time ruling lawmaker with a margin of more than 20 per cent. Also read | South Korea: Coronavirus success story guides Moon's party towards massive election win "I was dearly afraid if the Gangnam residents would take a guy from the North," he said during his acceptance speech uploaded on his YouTube channel, as his supporters gathered in his campaign office and chanting his name. Also read | South Koreans head to polls despite global pandemic "But so many people here gave me strength - they held my hand, welcomed me to Gangnam and promised to vote for me," Thae added. Gangnam is a wealthy region known for its luxury homes, boutiques and gained recognition from musician Psy's 2012 K-pop hit "Gangnam Style". With this win, Thae became the first North Korean refugee to get elected to serve in representing a constituency. Cho Myung-chul, a former professor in North Korea, earlier worked as a lawmaker from 2012-16 after getting a party endorsement, but without a constituency. In this elections, the North Korean defectors targetted President Moon Jae-in for his policies against Pyongyang as they complain of ignoring human rights, muzzling anti-Pyongyang protests to reconcile with Kim Jong Un. The state-run media in North Korea called Thae a "human scum" and criminal after his defection and accused him of embezzling state funds and sexually assaulting a minor. Thae flatly denied the accusations and vowed to continue carrying out political activities in South Korea. "I had risked my life to come to the Republic of Korea seeking free democracy and values in market economy," Thae said. "I will solve regional issues with the market principles ... while pushing for North Korea policy that better reflects the reality there and matches the pride of the South Korean citizens." (With Reuters inputs)

'Gangnam Style': North Korean defector wins parliamentary seat in South Korea

North Korean state media yesterday accused a diplomat who defected from Britain to South Korea of fleeing to escape punishment for a variety of crimes, including child rape, for which Pyongyang had sought to extradite him. 
 
A commentary by the KCNA news agency did not identify the diplomat by name, but on Wednesday South Korea announced that Thae Yong Ho, who was deputy ambassador at North Korea&#39;s embassy in London, had arrived in South Korea with his family. 
 
Thae is the highest-level diplomat to defect from isolated North Korea to the rival, democratic South, according to the South Korean government. 
 
&quot;The fugitive was ordered in June to be summoned for embezzling a lot of state funds, selling state secrets and committing child rape,&quot; KCNA said. 
 
North Korea had told London about what it said were his crimes and requested that he be handed over, KCNA said. 
 
Instead, it said, Britain tainted its image as a law-abiding country by &quot;handing over the fugitives without passports to the South Korean puppets and neglecting its duty to protect diplomats living in its own country.&quot; 
 
A spokesman for Britain&#39;s foreign office did not have immediate comment. Thae and his family are under South Korean government protection and not available for comment. 
 
&quot;This one clearly deserves legal punishment for crimes he has committed but he proved that he is human scum that has no basic loyalty as a human and no conscience and morality by running away to survive and abandoning the homeland and parents and siblings that raised and stood by him,&quot; KCNA said.&nbsp; 
 
North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. 
 
(Reuters)

KCNA news agency said Britain tainted its image as a law abiding country by handing over the fugitive to the 'South Korean puppets'

North Korean state media yesterday accused a diplomat who defected from Britain to South Korea of fleeing to escape punishment for a variety of crimes, including child rape, for which Pyongyang had sought to extradite him. A commentary by the KCNA news agency did not identify the diplomat by name, but on Wednesday South Korea announced that Thae Yong Ho, who was deputy ambassador at North Korea's embassy in London, had arrived in South Korea with his family. Thae is the highest-level diplomat to defect from isolated North Korea to the rival, democratic South, according to the South Korean government. "The fugitive was ordered in June to be summoned for embezzling a lot of state funds, selling state secrets and committing child rape," KCNA said. North Korea had told London about what it said were his crimes and requested that he be handed over, KCNA said. Instead, it said, Britain tainted its image as a law-abiding country by "handing over the fugitives without passports to the South Korean puppets and neglecting its duty to protect diplomats living in its own country." A spokesman for Britain's foreign office did not have immediate comment. Thae and his family are under South Korean government protection and not available for comment. "This one clearly deserves legal punishment for crimes he has committed but he proved that he is human scum that has no basic loyalty as a human and no conscience and morality by running away to survive and abandoning the homeland and parents and siblings that raised and stood by him," KCNA said. North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. (Reuters)

North Korea brands diplomat defector 'human scum'

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'Gangnam Style': North Korean defector wins parliamentary seat in South Korea

North Korea brands diplomat defector 'human scum'