Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (2-L) speaks during the 2024 Jeju Forum for peace and prosperity at a convention center on the country's southern Jeju Island, South Korea. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
June 19 (Asia Today) -- Former North Korean diplomats have alleged that a North Korean education specialist affiliated with UNESCO and being considered as a speaker at an international forum in South Korea may be connected to Pyongyang's intelligence apparatus.
Jang Kwang-chol is under consideration to participate by video in a session titled "UNESCO and the Future of Education: Challenges and Prospects" at the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, according to forum organizers.
The forum, jointly hosted by South Korea's Foreign Ministry, the Jeju provincial government and other organizations, is scheduled to take place from Wednesday through June 26 at Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju and Jeju Stone Park.
The former diplomats' allegations regarding Jang could not be independently verified. Neither UNESCO nor the North Korean government was quoted as responding to the claims.
