A senior North Korean defector says UN sanctions held back a major construction project spearheaded by leader Kim Jong-un.

North Korea's former Deputy Ambassador to the United Kingdom Thae Yong-ho defected earlier this year.

He told reporters Tuesday Kim Jong-un had hoped to finish a development project on Pyongyang's "Ryomyong Street" in time to celebrate the anniversary of the North's ruling Workers' Party on October tenth. The idea was to show how little effect global sanctions had on the North.

According to former North Korean diplomat, sanctions made that project impossible, and are causing a mounting crisis for Kim's regime.