Kim Joo-il, a well-known, London-based North Korean defector and human rights activist, said the KCNA remarks were “a ridiculous claim”.
“There are no underage girls in the North’s embassy,” he said. “If he (committed rape) of a British women, the UK media would have reported before the North media outlet did.”
Observers in South Korea had mixed views about the statement.
“This response is quite common behavior, which can be traced back to the 1950s, when North Korea would demand the extradition of North Koreans who were seeking asylum in the Soviet Union,” said Dr. Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University.
“The Soviet Union was inclined to ignore such claims as the UK is likely to ignore them now,” he said.
“(He) embezzled a lot of the state’s funds and handed over confidential information for money and committed a crime of raping minors,” a translation of the KCNA statement said, which did not refer to Thae by name.
“The DPRK Central Prosecutor’s Office investigated materials for his crimes and released a written verdict on July 12 … (detailing) crimes including intentionally divulging secrets, embezzling state property, and sexual intercourse with a minor.”
The KCNA statement added that it had informed the British government about Thae’s alleged crimes and was disappointed that London had allowed him to flee to South Korea.
“At an early stage of the crime, we gave the UK details of the crimes that (Thae) committed, and urged them to hand over the criminal for investigation.
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