A nuclear scientist who defected from North Korea committed suicide in a jail cell rather than return to the hermit kingdom, according to reports.

The lead researcher at the physics center of the State Academy of Sciences in Pyongyang took poison hours before he was to be interrogated, according to Radio Free Asia.

“He killed himself only a few hours after he was placed in solitary confinement at the State Security Department in Sinuiju city,” the broadcaster reported, citing a source from North Hamgyong Province.

“He died before he could be questioned about the reasons for his escape, who had helped him, and what his route had been,” the report said.

Radio Free Asia identified the scientist as Hyun Cheol Huh, who had been detained in Shenyang, China, on Nov. 4. About two weeks later, he was sent to the city of Sinuiju, where he took the poison, the Korea Herald reported.

Hyun is said to have taken leave from his job “because he was showing signs of anxiety over his research projects,” the source said, the UK’s Telegraph reported.

“Suddenly, he visited relatives near the border without letting his family know and without carrying valid documents for travel. And when he learned that the authorities were looking for him, he simply disappeared,” the source said.

Reports suggested that Hyun had tried to join up with other defectors and that the Chinese were unaware of his identity when they were tipped off by the rogue regime’s intelligence.

On Friday, the Daily NK reported that North Korean troops have been ordered to shoot defectors trying to escape — even if they have already entered Chinese territory — or face the firing squad themselves.

The crackdown followed the high-profile defection of a young soldier whose daring dash for freedom was caught on camera.