North Korean nuke scientist who escaped to China kills himself as Kim Jong-un gives new insane order

An official source told Broadcaster Radio Free Asia: "He killed himself only a few hours after he was placed in solitary confinement at the State Security Department in Sinuiju city.

“He died before he could be questioned about the reasons for his escape, who had helped him, and what his route had been."

The lead researcher from the State of Academy of Sciences physics centre in Pyongyang, had been detained in Shenyang, China on November 4.

A source told the Telegraph Hyun is said to have taken leave from his job "because he was showing signs of anxiety over his research projects.

"Suddenly, he visited relatives near the border without letting his family know and without carrying valid documents for travel.

"And when he learned that the authorities were looking for him, he simply disappeared," the source added.

On Friday, the Daily NK reported that North Korean troops have been ordered to shoot defectors trying to escape — even if they have already entered Chinese territory — or face the firing squad themselves.

The crackdown followed the high-profile defection of a young soldier whose daring dash for freedom was caught on camera.