North Korea has officially ended diplomatic ties with Malaysia starting Friday following the Federal Court’s decision to grant the US’ request of extraditing Mun Chol Myong, who is wanted for money laundering charges.
According to the state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Malaysia was accused of committing “an unpardonable crime by forcibly delivering an innocent citizen to the US”. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry also issued a strong-worded statement, calling the extradition “a hostile act” done under intense pressure from the US.
Mun, who had resided in Malaysia for a decade with his family, was arrested in May 2019 following Washington’s extradition request.
He later filed an affidavit to challenge Malaysia’s approval of the extradition request, claiming that he was not involved in the smuggling of luxury goods to North Korea via Singapore, which violates UN sanctions, during his stay there before moving to Malaysia in 2008. He also asserted that the charges were politically motivated but lost his bid to escape extradition earlier this month.
In response, North Korea warned that Malaysian authorities will be fully responsible for any future consequences and said that the US would pay the “ultimate price” for masterminding the entire incident.
“It is a total fabrication to insist that he [Mun] was involved in illegal money laundering.”
North Korea and Malaysia’s diplomatic history
North Korea and Malaysia established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level on June 30, 1973, where both sides have enjoyed close ties. Malaysia was also the only country in the world to have unfettered access to North Korea without a visa.
Relations between the two remained relatively stable, and Malaysia was host to high-level negotiations between North Korea and her foes, such as the US and Japan. Malaysia’s unwavering support of North Korea in international affairs was duly rewarded when the reclusive country opened its first restaurant called “DPRK Pyongyang Pavilion” in Kuala Lumpur in April 2008.
However, diplomatic ties became strained in 2017 when Kim Jong Un’s half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, was murdered in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on February 13, causing many countries to accuse North Korea of orchestrating the murder.
After endless disagreements over the circumstances of the murder, Malaysia recalled its ambassador to North Korea and rescinded visa-free travel for North Koreans. North Korea responded in kind by banning Malaysians from leaving its soil, trapping three diplomats and their family members. They were later allowed to return after Malaysia agreed to send Kim’s body back to North Korea.
When Pakatan Harapan (PH) wrested power from the incumbent Barisan Nasional coalition during the 2018 general elections, newly-elected Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that it was time for the world to discard its skepticism towards Kim Jong Un and instead “learn from his new attitude towards bringing about peace”. On October 25, 2019, Mahathir paid a visit to the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Choe Ryong-hae, to discuss renewing diplomatic ties.
Sources: (news.cctv.com. KCNA)
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
