KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 ― The Malaysian government criticised today the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) decision to sever diplomatic ties over Malaysia’s extradition of one of its nationals to the US.
The Foreign Ministry said it has also directed all diplomatic personnel of the DPRK, otherwise known as North Korea, along with their families here to exit Malaysia no later than March 21.
It noted that operations at the Malaysian embassy there were already suspended since 2017.
“The government of Malaysia is now compelled by the decision of the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) to close the Embassy of Malaysia in Pyongyang which operation had already been suspended since 2017.
“At the same time, the government will issue an order for all the diplomatic staff and their dependents at the embassy of the DPRK in Kuala Lumpur to leave Malaysia within 48 hours from today, March 19, 2021.
“Malaysia deeply regrets the March 19, 2021 decision by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to sever diplomatic ties with Malaysia. Malaysia denounces the decision as unfriendly and unconstructive, disrespecting the spirit of mutual respect and good neighbourly relations among members of the international community,” the statement from the Foreign Ministry read.
The ministry said that Malaysia had always considered the DPRK as a close partner since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, adding that Malaysia was among the earliest to have done so and would continue to support the DPRK during its difficult times.
It added that Malaysia had been persistent in pursuing concrete efforts to strengthen ties with the DPRK, even “after the deplorable assassination of Kim Jong-nam in 2017.”
Jong-nam was the estranged brother of North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, who was assassinated at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.
“In this respect, the DPRK’s unilateral decision is clearly unwarranted, disproportionate and certainly disruptive towards the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity of our region,” it added.
On the extradition of DPRK national Mun Chol Myong, which angered North Korea, the ministry defended the decision that it said was within Malaysia’s legal rights.
It said that the Malaysian government had to also “put aside a series of DPRK demarches for the Malaysian Executive to intervene in our judiciary and legal system.”
“As a country which upholds the principles of justice, rule of law and independence of judiciary, Malaysia has ensured that the extradition of the DPRK national, Mun Chol Myong, was conducted in accordance with those principles.
“The extradition was only carried out after the due legal process had been exhausted. The rights of Mun Chol Myong while in custody in Malaysia were also guaranteed and fulfilled, including his access to his own defence counsel, as well as to consular assistance and visits by his family,” the ministry further said.
It said Mun was detained by Malaysian authorities on May 14, 2019, pursuant to the provisional arrest warrant issued under Section 13 (1) (b) of the Extradition Act 1992, following allegations of conspiracy to launder money and money laundering, as well as violating United Nations (UN) sanctions. Such acts are also offences under the Malaysian law.
The ministry said that he had appeared before the Sessions Court of Kuala Lumpur on December 13, 2019, which allowed a committal against him.
“His application for the writ of habeas corpus at the High Court of Kuala Lumpur on December 29, 2019 and his appeal at the Federal Court on October 8, 2020 were also dismissed, as the courts found that his application and appeal were unjustified and failed to meet the requirements under the aforementioned Extradition Act.
“Malaysia reserves our every right to respond to the decision of the DPRK in order to protect our sovereignty and to safeguard our national interest. Malaysia believes that
our stance on this unfortunate development will be fully appreciated and understood by our friends and partners who commit to the principles of justice, rule of law, as well as to
peaceful coexistence among nations,” the ministry said further.
Earlier today, international news agency Reuters reported North Korea saying that it would sever diplomatic relations with Malaysia after the courts here ruled that Mun could be extradited to the US to face money-laundering charges.
The report quoted North Korea’s state media KCNA reporting the republic’s stance against Malaysia.
North Korea’s foreign affairs ministry also reportedly warned that Washington would “pay a price”, in the statement published by the KCNA.
The North Korean foreign ministry reportedly labelled the extradition a “nefarious act and unpardonably heavy crime” by Malaysian authorities, who had “offered our citizen as a sacrifice of the US hostile move in defiance of the acknowledged international laws.”
Malaysia’s actions had destroyed “the entire foundation of the bilateral relations based on the respect for sovereignty,” it further said.
