North Korea, Malay and Dankyo... "The United States will pay the price, too"

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North Korea has declared a break with Malaysia.

This is because Malaysian authorities handed over a North Korean man who was involved in illegal money laundering to the United States.

North Korea insisted that the US was the driver behind it, and that the US would pay the price.

Ahn Jung-sik is a reporter specializing in North Korea.

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In December 2019, a court in Malaysia held a trial for extradition of a North Korean businessman, Moon Chul-myeong.

He was accused of violating sanctions against North Korea by sending luxury goods such as alcohol and watches to North Korea while living in Malaysia and laundering money through a ghost company.

A Malaysian court ruled that Mr. Moon was sent to the United States, who requested extradition.

[Jagit Singh/Mr. Chul-Myeong Moon (December 2019): The court has allowed the prosecution to send Moon to the United States.]

Moon denied the charges, but the decision was finalized in the Malaysian Supreme Court earlier this month.

A North Korean criminal who violated sanctions against North Korea outside of North Korea and was involved in money laundering was handed over to the United States.

In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, North Korea declared that Moon was handed over to the United States two days ago and that it would cut off diplomatic relations with Malaysia, which cooperated with the United States.

He claimed that the charges against Mr. Moon were absurd as a hoax and insult.

It seems that the reason North Korea took the intensive measures of a break-up is that it is concerned that if such cases are expanded, illegal activities in other countries that avoid sanctions against North Korea will become difficult.

The Malaysian government expressed regret for the North Korean action and ordered North Korean embassy staff to leave Malaysia within 48 hours.

North Korea warned the United States that it would pay the price for being the driver and culprit behind the incident.

It has shown dissatisfaction with the US, which has urged the implementation of sanctions against North Korea, and foretells the action, and there is a possibility of launching a provocation such as a missile launch sooner or later.

(Video editing: Kim Ho-jin)