BY DONNA WESTFALL

CREDIT TO NOOZILLA AND VOICE OF AMERICA

Yun Tae Hyong, a senior representative of North Korea’s Korea Daesong Bank, disappeared last week in Nakhodka, in the Russian Far East, with $5 million reportedly seeking asylum in a third county. This senior North Korean banking official managed money for leader Kim Jong Un.  North Korea, an isolated county, is under the extremely repressive thumb of 3rd generation, 31 year old Kim Jong Un, after the heart attack death of his father in 2011.  He is the worlds youngest head of state.

What makes this amazing is when you start researching Korea and it’s young leader.  A few interesting facts:  1.) Jong Un rules his country with a heavy hand.  He took out his uncles family.  Let’s just call it what it is.  He purged the entire line of his Uncle Jang Sung-taek along with close relatives: children, grandchildren, his sister, her husband who was ambassador to Cuba, his nephew and the nephews two sons in his attempt to erase all traces of his father’s rule.  2.) Jong Un is no slouch.  He has a degree in physics and spent some time attending schools in Switzerland.  Called socially awkward and shy by fellow students. Lover of basketball and fascinated with Michael Jordan 3.) 2013 North Korea has threatened nuking the US starting with Los Angeles and Washington D.C. 4.) Accused of human rights violations by the UN and the commission of inquiry in February 2014 recommends making him accountable for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court because more than 10,000 people have died of famine in one province, they have public executions and defectors are ordered killed.

This is the first time anyone has been successful in seizing funds and getting out of the country. What are the odds that Yun Tae Hyong will live out his life to a ripe old age?  I wouldn’t want to bet on it.