The defector, Hwang Jang-yap, was a senior aide to Kim Jong-il and the highest ranking official ever to seek asylum in South Korea, turning up at the South Korean embassy in Beijing. Hwang, 73, is credited with playing a leading role in shaping the policy of Juche, a theory of extreme self-reliance providing the ideological underpinning for the world's last Stalinist state.
Hwang is one of 11 secretaries on the powerful secretariat of the ruling Workers' Party. He is also a member of the party's central committee and is in charge of its foreign policy, according to Seoul officials.
Hwang's defection follows the dramatic worsening of North-South relations as a result of the seizure of a North Korean submarine that ran aground off the South Korean coast in September while landing commandos on an infiltration mission. Thirteen commandos were killed by South Korean troops, 11 were found dead and one was captured.
North Korea subsequently issued a grudging apology as demanded by the South, but continued to berate the Seoul government. South Korea had demanded the apology as a condition for continuing to support the agreement under which the North is to give up its nuclear weapons capability.
Growing numbers of North Koreans have defected to the South in recent years, including diplomats, an air force pilot and a foreign exchange dealer. In December a family of 17 became the largest group of North Koreans ever to flee to the South.
North Korea continues to experience severe food shortages because of crop failures and floods and has sought food shipments from abroad to stave off famine. Since the demise of the Soviet Union, its main ally, the North Korean economy has been in shambles.
The defection came just four days before the heralded 55th birthday of Kim Jong-il, when he might have planned to assume his father's titles. Hwang's defection might delay such a step, but North Korea remains an enigma.
In any case, the defection represents a deep crack in the facade of unity in Pyongyang. This government is in deep trouble. South Korea and the United States must be vigilant to guard against an attack inspired by desperation. They must also be prepared to deal with a possible collapse of the regime and the chaos that might follow.
Obviously motivated by unhappiness with some of Jeremy Harris' second-tier appointments, this move reeks of political vindictiveness and control.
What about making decisions on the merits of legislation? This doesn't seem to figure in their calculations. "Going out on a limb" and voting on the basis of their own judgment of the public interest - not what seems to be popular - is what legislators are paid to do.
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor