A close aide of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's uncle has reportedly fled to China after being sacked from his roles in the regime and is currently being protected by South Korean officials.
The unnamed defector is said to be hiding in a secret location in China after requesting asylum from the South Korean government, Sky News reports.
According to the report, he used to manage funds for Kim's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, before escaping the North.
Due to his important position, he got proximity to Kim, and this made him one of the most powerful men in North Korea.
General Jang was removed last month as vice chairman of the North Korean National Defence Commission (NDC), and the reports said that his fall from grace could have been a result of the aide's defection.
Meanwhile, two other aides were executed at the time of Jang's sacking.