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By Lee Han-soo

A North Korean General allegedly fled the repressive state in mid-July with more than $40 million (45 billion won), a Korean TV broadcaster announced Friday.

According to KBS, the unidentified defector was in charge of Section 39 inside the North Korean Workers' Party.

Section 39 oversees foreign currency earnings by the country's workers in Southeast Asia and China.

The general is in China with two family members, but wishes to defect to a different country that has not been specified, according to the KBS report.

How the general managed to defect with the massive amount of money is unknown.

Experts believe that the defection of a high-ranking military official could lead to a mass defection among Pyongyang's elite.

South Korean authorities said they cannot verify the report.