A former North Korean diplomat who last year was reported to have defected from the country's embassy in Rome is believed to be safe and under protection in a third country, an official from South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) was reported to have said Thursday.

Speaking following a close-door hearing with NIS officials, National Assembly Intelligence Committee lawmaker Lee Eun-jae told reporters she "heard the answer" that the former chargé d’affaires for the DPRK embassy in Rome Jo Song Gil "is under protection somewhere," according to the DongA Ilbo.