Myanmar expels North Korean diplomat

Myanmar has announced the expulsion of a North Korean diplomat over alleged links to a North Korean company blacklisted by the United Nations.

A North Korean military parade. Photo: Reuters

“The government has taken necessary measures against Kim Chol Nam, a citizen of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, who is currently serving as Second Secretary at the North Korean Embassy,” Yonhap reported on October 20, citing a statement from the website of the United Nations Committee on Sanctions against North Korea.

The notice said Mr. Kim “is a member of the Korea Mining Development Trading Company (KOMID),” a company that is on a list of individuals and organizations sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council for allegedly supporting Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

The announcement also said that Myanmar announced the deportation of Mr. Kim in April and that the diplomat and his family returned home in June this year.

KOMID is a North Korean government-affiliated company that is believed to be a channel for Pyongyang's export of weapons and ballistic missile-related equipment. The company has been blacklisted by the UN Security Council since 2009.

Myanmar, which has friendly relations with North Korea, is implementing sanctions against Pyongyang for the first time. “Myanmar is fully committed to complying with UN Security Council resolutions,” the report said.

According to Dan Tri