A senior North Korean diplomat, who had been based in London for ten years, is said to have defected and fled abroad with his family. Thae Yong Ho was the number two at the embassy of the highly secretive communist country.

South Korean media say that he was under intolerable pressure from Pyongyang to counter criticism of North Korea.

Paul French is the author of 'North Korea: State of Paranoia' and has visited the country several times.

(Photo: Kim Jong-Un waves to a parade crowd. Credit: Getty Images)