The agency did not disclose how much plutonium or enriched uranium the North has produced, Kyodo said.
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Thae Yong Ho and his family are now said to be in Seoul in South Korea.
South Korea said on Wednesday that North Korea’s deputy ambassador to Britain had defected to Seoul, in what amounts to a major loss of diplomatic face for Pyongyang.
“On his reasons for defection, Minister Thae cited disgust with (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-Un’s regime, admiration for South Korea’s free, democratic system and the future of his family”, Jeong said.
Thae, 55, is a veteran diplomat who is experienced in dealing with countries in Western Europe.
More than 29,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, according to South Korean government records.
North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January, and South Korea has been working hard to apply more global pressure on the North.
Pyongyang regularly condemns military exercises in South Korea – especially those involving the United States, as will take place later this month.
In April, 13 North Koreans working at a North Korean-operated restaurant in China defected to South Korea in the largest group defection since Kim Jong Un took power in late 2011.
And, in July, an 18-year-old student, who was in Hong Kong for an global maths contest, reportedly sought asylum in the South Korean consulate in the city.
People watch a TV news showing a file image of Thae Yong Ho, minister at the North Korean Embassy in London, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. The defection of Thae – a key elite who had supported the North Korean regime – is another indication of escalating disgruntlement by the elite class and the unrest of the North Korean society under the young Kim stemming from his merciless and reckless ways to strengthen hold and pursue nuclear ambition.
Over the years, almost 30,000 North Koreans have fled poverty and repression in their country and settled in the South. They are screened for their loyalty and family background before their posting overseas, and family members who stay behind are often virtual hostages.
The spokesman said Thae made a decision to defect out of “disillusion” of the Kim regime and for the sake of the future of his children.
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The highest-ranking defector to come to the South was Hwang Jang-Yop, the North’s chief ideologue and former tutor to Kim Jong-Il.
