North Korean Defections

[Gobalopper]

N Korean scientists defect

A swath of North Korea's military and scientific elite, among them key nuclear specialists, has defected to the US and its allies through a highly secret smuggling operation involving the tiny Pacific island of Nauru.

The defections have taken place since last October and have been made possible through the help of 11 countries that agreed to provide consular protection to smuggle the targets from neighbouring China, according to sources close to the operation, which has now been wound up.

Among those now believed to be in a safe house in the West is the father of North Korea's nuclear program, Kyong Won-ha, who left his homeland late last year with the help of Spanish officials. Debriefings of Mr Kyong are said to have given intelligence officials an unprecedented insight into North Korea's nuclear capabilities, particularly at the feared reactor number one in the southern city of Yongbyon.

The operation -- dubbed Weasel -- has been largely facilitated through non-government organisations and private citizens from South Korea, the US and its allies. It has deliberately been kept at arm's length from any government.

It is understood to have led directly to the defection of up to 20 senior North Korean officials in the past six months.

Great news if this turns out to be true.

[Davidu]

This is really important. But I really don't think that the NK regime will fall.

[Gobalopper]

No this certainly won't cause it to fall but it will help the US and others get a better understanding of how far along the North Koreans are and maybe some underlying information on the government itself.

[Navaros]

what do they gain for defecting? i am sure these guys were all very rich in North Korea. so is the USA paying them off big $$$ for their info or what?

what is in it for them for defecting?

[SurlyPIG]

Their safety and the safety of their families, the rest of their conscience knowing that they are no longer tied to a group that may lead to the slaughter of millions of people, the fact that it's the right thing to do...

There's lots of reasons. :)