North Korean defectors in Seoul are calling for the governments of Italy and South Korea to protect a North Korean diplomat who has gone missing. Pyongyang's envoy in Rome, Jo Song-gil, and his wife haven't been seen since early November.
Bruce Harrison reports from Seoul.
NAT: group chanting (Korean)
'Jo Song-gil, be strong' a group chants.
They're members of a coalition demanding the safety of North Korean Jo Song-gil.
Jo was North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy.
But he and his wife's whereabouts are now unknown.
South Korea media report Jo defected and is seeking asylum in the West.
But those reports are unconfirmed.
Former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho defected in 2016 to South Korea.
He believes Jo should join him in Seoul.
SOT: Thae Yong-ho (English)
"We should tell to North Korean citizens, that South Korea, the Republic of Korea, is their motherland. And Korea would welcome any North Korean citizens who want to come to this country."
The coalition is concerned the government in Seoul is unsure about receiving a high-profile refugee.
Defections to South Korea are a thorny issue in inter-Korean politics.
And President Moon has avoided the topic in his diplomatic outreach to Kim Jong-un.
SOQ