Jean-Baptiste Kim (right)

Jean-Baptiste Kim (born 26 January 1966[citation needed]) is a political defector-refugee from South Korea in Europe.

He was born in South Korea which he fled as a teenager following incarceration and torture against him and his family members by the South Korean authorities leading to the death of his father.[1] (His father was a political activist of the then-military dictatorship in South Korea.)

After becoming a French citizen he was opened to North Korean connections in Europe by meeting a North Korean agent Oon Yung.[2] This led to his political defection from South Korea to North Korea, becoming an associate of Kim Jong-il whom he met and says was like a father figure for him.[3] He actively worked for the North Korean authorities for 11 years, visiting Pyongyang several times. He served time as a foreign correspondent of Rodong Sinmun.

In 2007, he announced his dissociation with Pyongyang and that he is no longer working for the North Korean state.[4] This led to the cancellation of the Rock for Peace Festival that he was in the middle of organising in which a Norwegian rock band among others was to perform in Pyongyang.[5] Following his resignation, he became a mobile phone salesman in New Malden, Surrey.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Christopher Michael (2008-04-09). "From despot's PR man to Surrey salesman". The Spectator. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  2. ^ "Smells Like Kim Spirit". Asia Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  3. ^ Perrone, Jane (2006-10-31). "North Korea Q&A". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  4. ^ "Coup D'Etat". Mesh.typepad.com. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  5. ^ [1] Archived August 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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