The North Korean general who was reported to have fled the North around the middle of this month is said to be a major general from the North's Ministry of People's Armed Forces, a rank equal to South Korea's brigadier general.

A source familiar with North Korean affairs said Friday that the major general, who managed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's slush funds in Southeast Asia, defected carrying a large sum of money worth some 45 billion won, or 40 million dollars, that was supposed to be given to the leader.

The source explained the major general was in charge of sending foreign currency earned overseas including at construction sites and North Korean restaurants in southern China or Southeast Asia to the so-called "Room 39" of the North's Workers' Party, which serves as Kim Jong-un's private slush fund safety deposit.

The officer is said to have defected from the North carrying 40 million dollars that should have been transferred to Room 39 but it is not known how he stole the money.

The source said the major general and his group who defected together are waiting in China seeking asylum in a third country.