A North Korean diplomat in Cuba defected to South Korea in November, a possible blow to leader Kim

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A TV screen shows a file image of Ri Il Kyu, a senior North Korea diplomat based in Cuba, during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. South Korea's spy agency said Tuesday that Ri has fled to South Korea, the latest in a series of defections by members of the North's ruling elite in recent years. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)