N. Korean Diplomat Defects In Egypt

North Korea’s ambassador to Egypt and his wife were reported Monday to have defected in Cairo. South Korea’s media also reported that the envoy’s older brother, who serves as North Korea’s trade representative in Paris, disappeared almost simultaneously.

North Korea’s embassy in Cairo denied the South Korean reports, but offered conflicting accounts on Chang Sung Gil’s whereabouts.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it was trying to confirm the defection, reported by South Korea’s national news agency, Yonhap.