A North Korean source has claimed that Thae Yong-ho, minister at the North Korean embassy in London, was kidnapped.

In an interview with KBS, Kim Myong-chol, chief of the Japan-based Center for Korean-American Peace, an institution viewed as Pyongyang's informal mouthpiece, claimed that Thae was abducted.

Kim said that if Thae defected voluntarily, he should be criticizing North Korea but he is doing nothing. Kim said that this is proof that the defection was not of his own will. He also claimed that the diplomat may have received money or his children may have been taken hostage.

Kim added that he spoke with the North Korean side Friday morning on the issue.