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February 24, 2017

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Malaysia ‘is looking to retaliate’ as tensions with North Korea mount

MALAYSIA is considering expelling North Korea’s envoy to the Southeast Asian nation or shutting its embassy in Pyongyang, as tensions escalate over the killing of the estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, a senior government official said.

Kim Jong Nam, 46, was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13 with what police believe was a fast-acting poison, as he prepared to board a flight to Macau where he lived.

North Korea’s ambassador said last week his country “cannot trust” Malaysia’s handling of the investigation and also accused the country of “colluding with outside forces” — a veiled reference to South Korea.

A senior Malaysian government official who is familiar with the discussions said Ambassador Kang Chol’s comments had angered Malaysia and it was preparing a response, which could include declaring the ambassador “persona non grata.” Such a move would be the strongest response Malaysia could take against a foreign diplomat and would mean Kang Chol would have to leave the country.

The source said Malaysia was also considering other options. The country, which has until now been one of the few nations to maintain friendly ties with North Korea, could close its embassy in Pyongyang, or end visa-free travel for North Koreans entering Malaysia.

If the criticism from North Korea did not stop, all diplomatic and trade ties could be cut, the source added.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said earlier this week that the ambassador’s comments casting doubt over Malaysia’s investigation were “diplomatically rude.”

“The statement by the ambassador was totally uncalled for ... But Malaysia will stand firm,” Najib said on Tuesday.

Malaysia is among the few foreign countries that North Koreans can travel to easily, thanks to a visa-free policy for visitors that is largely reciprocated by Pyongyang.

Since the 1980s, North Korea has used the Southeast Asian nation as a hub to promote its strategic and business interests, legitimate and otherwise, some analysts say.

But the tensions with Malaysia may further isolate North Korea.

Pyongyang’s nuclear arms and weapons programs have alarmed the West, most recently its test of a ballistic missile earlier this month in its first direct challenge to the international community since Donald Trump became America’s president.

Malaysian police on Wednesday named a North Korean diplomat and a state airline official who they said were wanted for questioning over the killing of Kim Jong Nam.

In all, police say they have identified eight North Korean men, one Vietnamese woman and one Indonesian woman in connection with the killing. They said at least four of the suspects had fled the country and were most likely in Pyongyang.

North Korea has not responded to Malaysia’s allegations of the possible involvement of its diplomat in the case. Attempts by Reuters to contact the North Korean embassy by phone were unsuccessful, and reporters were not allowed to enter the embassy to seek comment.

North Korean diplomats spent hours last week trying to talk Malaysian officials out of conducting an autopsy on Kim Jong Nam’s body, sources familiar with the discussions said, but Malaysia rejected the requests. The body is still at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, as the autopsy has yet to be completed.

Yesterday, Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that the North Korea’s ambassador had breached diplomatic norms with his comments.

“He crossed the line. To me, this is a diplomatic irregularity,” he was quoted as saying.




 

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