Seoul – A former North Korean diplomat who recently defected to South Korea believes Kim Jong Un is closely watching developments in Venezuela, and wiht good reason. Lee Ik Kyu, a political advisor with past experience in cuba, suggests the recent U.S. involvement in Venezuela-and attempts to influence a leadership change there-is being viewed in Pyongyang as a potential warning of similar interventionist strategies. Lee’s assessment, shared with AFP on Wednesday, indicates heightened anxiety within the North Korean regime regarding potential efforts to destabilize its leadership.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is likely contemplating the recent U.S. efforts to destabilize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government, according to a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea. The situation in Venezuela, where the United States has sought to influence a change in leadership, is being viewed with concern in Pyongyang.
Lee Ik Kyu, who served as a political advisor in Cuba from 2019 to 2023, told AFP on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, that the swift actions taken by Washington in Caracas earlier this month represent a worst-case scenario for Kim Jong Un. Lee, who defected to South Korea in November 2023, now works for a Seoul-based think tank.
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“Kim must be feeling that what is called an ‘operation to decapitate’ is actually possible,” Lee said. The development underscores the ongoing anxieties within the North Korean leadership regarding potential regime change efforts.
North Korea has long accused the United States of attempting to overthrow its government, maintaining that its nuclear and missile programs are necessary deterrents against such interventions. The situation highlights the delicate balance of power and the constant threat perception that shapes North Korea’s foreign policy.
Lee believes the events in Venezuela have triggered a sense of panic among North Korea’s leadership, who are intensely focused on security. He predicts Kim Jong Un will “overhaul the entire system related to security and countermeasures in the event of an attack against him.”
Since settling in South Korea, the 53-year-old Lee has become a vocal commentator on North Korea. He regularly contributes columns to a major South Korean newspaper and recently published his memoir, “Kim Jong Un as I Saw Him,” in Japanese, with an English version currently in development.
Lee stated that living in South Korea and witnessing its recent political developments has deepened his appreciation for its liberal democratic system.
“South Korea was able to function without a president for months after impeachment. Even without a president, the system worked very well,” he noted, referencing the recent impeachment proceedings involving President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Such a scenario is unthinkable in North Korea. “North Korea has completely deified its leadership. They cannot give their people the idea that their so-called supreme leader can actually be overthrown by the will of the people,” Lee explained.
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