SEOUL, South Korea — A former North Korean diplomat who fled his embassy posting has become the first defector to run for South Korea’s Parliament, saying on Wednesday that he was motivated by Seoul’s forced repatriation of two North Korean fishermen who wanted to defect to the South.

“This was so wrong, even if they were criminals,” said the former diplomat, Thae Yong-ho, referring to the two North Koreans who were repatriated to the North in November after they were captured in waters off South Korea.

Mr. Thae was the No. 2 diplomat in the North Korean Embassy in London when he fled to South Korea with his wife and two sons​ in 2016​.

South Korea’s main conservative political opposition, the United Future Party, selected him to run in National AssemblyChina-U.S. military relations developing steadily: spokesman

BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Relations between the Chinese and U.S. militaries have been developing steadily this year, said Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday.

"Development of China-U.S. military-to-military relationship is in line with the common interests of both countries, and is conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," Wu noted at a press conference.

This year will see more exchanges between the two sides, including high-level exchanges, institutional dialogues, visits by warships as well as joint training and drills, said Wu, citing achievements made so far such as the 12th China-U.S. defense ministry working level meeting held in January in the United States.

China is willing to work with the U.S. side to