Seoul: The highest-ranking North Korean defector ever to come to South Korea was found dead at his home on Sunday after an apparent heart attack, YTN cable news reported, citing intelligence officials.
Hwang Jang-Yop, 87, was found dead in his bathroom and likely died of natural causes, the TV channel quoted its sources as saying.
But it said intelligence officials are also investigating the possibility that he may have been killed.
Hwang, a former tutor to current North Korean leader Kim Jong-II, defected via China in 1997 and has since lived under police guard at an undisclosed address. He had received several death threats.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, October 10, 2010, 11:14