Defector’s Warning

[Anchor Lead]

Former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho, who defected to South Korea last year, testified before U.S. Congress where he warned that any kind of pre-emptive strike on the North Korean regime will only result in a devastating war for South Korea. He called on a representative of the U.S. government to meet with Kim Jong-un in person.

[Pkg]

Testifying at the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho sent a strong warning message against pre-emptive strikes on North Korea.

[Soundbite] Thae Yong-ho(Fmr. N. Korean Diplomat)

The former diplomat said that any preventive attack by the U.S. on the North will push the North to fire its long-range artillery and short-range missiles installed on the inter-Korean border.

[Soundbite] Thae Yong-ho(Fmr. N. Korean Diplomat)

Thae added that Kim Jong-un is underestimating the U.S.' military force and believes that by threatening it with his nuclear missiles he can make the U.S. withdraw its troops from the Korean Peninsula. He said that it is necessary for the Trump administration to meet with Kim Jong-un in person and hold dialogue.

[Soundbite] Thae Yong-ho(Fmr. N. Korean Diplomat)

The former diplomat stressed that by disseminating outside information to the North Korean public, the same effect can be produced as with former Soviet Union and former East European socialist countries.