![An external view of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South An external view of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South](https://c8.alamy.com/compes/2mktet4/an-external-view-of-the-north-korean-embassy-in-rome-thursday-jan-3-2018-north-koreas-acting-ambassador-to-italy-jo-song-gil-went-into-hiding-with-his-wife-in-november-south-koreas-spy-agency-told-lawmakers-in-seoul-on-thursday-ap-photo-andrew-medichini-2mktet4.jpg)
An external view of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South
![Former North Korean diplomat urges missing colleague in Italy to go to South Korea | The Independent | The Independent Former North Korean diplomat urges missing colleague in Italy to go to South Korea | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/01/06/00/jo-song-gil.jpg)
Former North Korean diplomat urges missing colleague in Italy to go to South Korea | The Independent | The Independent
![A cameraman films the exterior of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in A cameraman films the exterior of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2MKTETJ/a-cameraman-films-the-exterior-of-the-north-korean-embassy-in-rome-thursday-jan-3-2018-north-koreas-acting-ambassador-to-italy-jo-song-gil-went-into-hiding-with-his-wife-in-november-south-koreas-spy-agency-told-lawmakers-in-seoul-on-thursday-ap-photoandrew-medichini-2MKTETJ.jpg)
A cameraman films the exterior of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in
![Defected North Korean diplomat urges international community to help ex-colleague believed to be in hiding in Italy - ABC News Defected North Korean diplomat urges international community to help ex-colleague believed to be in hiding in Italy - ABC News](https://s.abcnews.com/images/International/jo-song-gil-ap-ml-190109_hpMain_4x3t_992.jpg)
Defected North Korean diplomat urges international community to help ex-colleague believed to be in hiding in Italy - ABC News
![The North Korean flag flies inside North Korea's embassy compound in Rome, Italy, 03 January 2019, Foto de Stock, Imagen Derechos Protegidos Pic. TIE-SEA030119-49 | agefotostock The North Korean flag flies inside North Korea's embassy compound in Rome, Italy, 03 January 2019, Foto de Stock, Imagen Derechos Protegidos Pic. TIE-SEA030119-49 | agefotostock](https://previews.agefotostock.com/previewimage/medibigoff/b0b863a2b52dbffacf1f9768810209cb/tie-sea030119-49.jpg)
The North Korean flag flies inside North Korea's embassy compound in Rome, Italy, 03 January 2019, Foto de Stock, Imagen Derechos Protegidos Pic. TIE-SEA030119-49 | agefotostock
![The North Korean flag flies inside North Korea's embassy compound in Rome, Italy, 03 January 2019, Foto de Stock, Imagen Derechos Protegidos Pic. TIE-SEA030119-51 | agefotostock The North Korean flag flies inside North Korea's embassy compound in Rome, Italy, 03 January 2019, Foto de Stock, Imagen Derechos Protegidos Pic. TIE-SEA030119-51 | agefotostock](https://previews.agefotostock.com/previewimage/medibigoff/8f3b4feb8e1bdce76716278cb2757a22/tie-sea030119-51.jpg)