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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday (March 19) denounced North Korea’s decision to sever diplomatic ties, describing the move as “hostile and unconstructive.”
In a statement, the ministry said Malaysia would close its embassy in Pyongyang in response and order all diplomatic personnel and their dependents at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur to leave the country within 48 hours.
“Malaysia denounces the decision as hostile and unconstructive, failing to respect the spirit of mutual respect and good neighborly relations among members of the international community,” the statement said.
“Malaysia reserves every right to respond to the decision of the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) to protect our sovereignty and safeguard our national interest.”
North Korea previously announced that it would sever diplomatic ties with Malaysia after a Malaysian court ruled that a North Korean man could be extradited to the United States to face money laundering charges, state media KCNA reported on Friday.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry also warned that Washington would “pay a price,” in a KCNA statement.
North Korea’s statement did not name its citizen, but in early March, Malaysia’s high court ruled that a North Korean man, Mun Chol Myong, could be extradited.
Mun had been arrested in 2019 after the United States accused him of laundering funds through front companies and issuing fraudulent documents to support illicit shipments to North Korea. He opposed the extradition request, arguing that it was politically motivated.
“DEEP REPENTANCE”
There was a heavy police presence outside the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday when hordes of journalists arrived after the announcement.
Malaysia had been one of North Korea’s few allies until Kim Jong Un’s half brother was killed with a banned nerve agent while waiting to catch a flight from Kuala Lumpur four years ago.
Before Kim Jong Nam’s assassination, Malaysia and North Korea enjoyed particularly warm relations, but later expelled each other’s ambassadors and scrapped a reciprocal visa-free travel arrangement for visitors.
Malaysia has had diplomatic relations with Pyongyang since 1973. Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said it “deeply regrets” North Korea’s decision to sever ties and that it had viewed North Korea as “a close partner” since the establishment. of diplomatic relations.
The ministry defended Mun’s extradition, saying it only took place after due process had been exhausted and that North Korea had pressured the government to intervene in the case.
Mun’s application for habeas corpus appeal in Kuala Lumpur High Court on December 29, 2019 and his appeal in federal court on October 8 last year were dismissed, the statement said.
He also said that Mun’s rights while in custody in Malaysia were also “guaranteed and fulfilled”, and that he had access to his own defense attorney, consular assistance and family visits.
