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North Korea abruptly sever diplomatic ties with Malaysia

2021-03-19T11:37:35.122Z


North Korea abruptly cut off diplomatic relations with Malaysia on Friday March 19, ending the privileged relationship it had with Kuala Lumpur until the 2017 assassination of leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother. Read also: North Korea: Kim Jong-un challenges Washington with his giant missile The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified this decision by the extradition on March 17, by th


North Korea abruptly cut off diplomatic relations with Malaysia on Friday March 19, ending the privileged relationship it had with Kuala Lumpur until the 2017 assassination of leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother.

Read also: North Korea: Kim Jong-un challenges Washington with his giant missile

The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified this decision by the extradition on March 17, by the Malaysian authorities, of one of its nationals to the United States, seeing it as an "

unforgivable crime

" committed "

with servility in the face of American pressures

”.

Until the murder of Kim Jong Nam four years ago, Malaysia was one of North Korea's only allies, isolated because of its nuclear program.

The North Korean leader's half-brother, also a regime critic, has died after receiving a nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport.

This assassination had largely been blamed by South Korea on the North.

Pyongyang denied.

Relations then gradually improved, with Malaysia deciding to reopen its embassy in Pyongyang.

Friday's announcement puts an end to this warming.

According to a statement released by the official KCNA news agency, the North Korean Foreign Ministry "

announces the complete severance of its diplomatic relations with Malaysia

."

His Malaysian counterpart, who "

deeply regrets

" this initiative and ordered all North Korean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, "

denounces this unfriendly and unconstructive decision, which does not respect the spirit of mutual respect and good neighborly relations among members of the international community

”.

Mun Chol Myong, the North Korean national subject to extradition, was engaged in "

legitimate foreign trade activities in Singapore,

" the North Korean agency said.

The Malaysian ministry defended him the extradition, explaining that it was carried out only after exhaustion of all the appeals of the person concerned and criticizing North Korea for having pressured so that Kuala Lumpur intervenes in the case. .

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 are touring Asia to strengthen Washington's ties with its traditional partners in the region vis-à-vis North Korea and China.

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.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-03-19

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