North Korea abruptly sever diplomatic ties with Malaysia
The North Korean Foreign Ministry announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Malaysia after the decision on March 17 extradition by Malaysian authorities of one of its nationals to the United States.
AP
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Furious at the extradition to the United States of one of its nationals, Pyongyang abruptly broke off its diplomatic relations with Kuala Lumpur on Friday March 19.
This puts an end to a privileged relationship until the assassination in 2017 of the half-brother of the leader Kim Jong-un.
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The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had taken this decision after the extradition on March 17 by the Malaysian authorities of one of its nationals to the United States.
He called this act an “
unforgivable crime
” committed “
with servility in the face of American pressure
”.
Until the murder of Kim Jong-nam four years ago, Malaysia was one of North Korea's only allies.
The brother of the North Korean leader, who was also a detractor of the regime, died after receiving a nerve agent on the face at Kuala Lumpur airport.
This assassination was largely attributed by South Korea to the North, which Pyongyang denied.
Their relations had subsequently gradually improved, with Malaysia notably deciding to reopen its embassy in Pyongyang.
This Friday's announcement suddenly puts an end to this warming.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry "
announces the complete severance of its diplomatic relations with Malaysia
", in a statement released by the official KCNA agency.
Mun Chol Myong, the North Korean national subject to extradition, was "engaged
in legitimate foreign trade activities in Singapore,
" the agency said.
Money laundering charges
This rupture comes the day after the visit to South Korea by two senior American officials of the new Biden administration.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin toured Asia in particular to strengthen Washington's ties with its traditional partners in the region in the face
of North Korea
and the growing influence of the United States. China.
On Thursday, Pyongyang warned that its stance will remain unchanged towards the United States as long as it does not renounce its "
hostile policy
" towards it.
On March 9, Mun Chol Myong had seen his last appeal rejected by Malaysia's highest court against extradition to the United States, where he will face charges of money laundering.
Mun in his 50s had been living in the Southeast Asian country for a decade with his family when he was arrested in 2019 following an extradition request from Washington.
In court, he dismissed the FBI's accusations that he led a criminal group in charge of exports to North Korea, in violation of international sanctions, which also allegedly laundered funds through shell companies.
He is accused of four counts of money laundering and two counts of conspiracy to launder money in the course of his work in Singapore, according to his lawyers.
Towards a gradual rise in tensions between Pyongyang and Washington?
The authorities did not say what goods he was able to illegally export to North Korea.
Other cases in the past have revealed exports of alcohol, watches and other luxury goods.
For Shahriman Lockman, foreign policy expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Kuala Lumpur, Pyongyang's announcement "
is part of the diplomatic signal sent by North Korea to the United States, which presages a gradual rise in tensions between Pyongyang and Washington
”.
Malaysia and North Korea enjoyed particularly cordial relations until 2017, but after Kim Jong-nam's assassination, the two countries expelled their respective ambassadors and abolished the reciprocal visa waiver agreement for visitors. .
As of December 2020, North Korea had embassies in around 25 countries, including Cuba, Iran, Germany and its main ally, China, according to Seoul.
Pyongyang has long been accused of using its diplomatic representations for intelligence purposes, money laundering and violating international sanctions.
(With
AFP
)
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To read: Kim Jong-un's half-brother poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport
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