SEOUL, Feb 10 — Thae Yong Ho, North Korea’s former deputy ambassador to Britain who defected to the South, is expected to run in an April general election as a member of the main opposition party, Yonhap New Agency reported today citing a party official.

The official, Kim Hyong-o, head of the conservative Liberty Korea Party’s election candidate selection panel, told reporters that the party planned to find Thae a constituency where he could play a good role, adding somewhere in Seoul would be appropriate.

"(Thae) is someone who risked his life for freedom. As a person who understands the sorrow of the 10 million separated families and as one of the 25 million North Koreans, he is the one who could show present a vision for peace and publicise South Korea’s related position,” Kim added.

The general election for the country’s national assembly is scheduled on April 15. — Reuters