Malaysia expels North Korean ambassador after Kim Jong-nam murder

On March 4, Malaysia asked North Korean Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Kang Chol to leave the country within 48 hours following tensions related to the Kim Jong-nam case.

A spokesman for the Malaysian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the evening of March 4 saying that Ambassador Kang Chol was called to the ministry but no officials from the North Korean embassy were present.

According to Malaysian Foreign Minister Seri Anifah, in a previous meeting on February 28, Malaysia asked North Korea to apologize in writing for the accusations Pyongyang made about the investigation into the Kim Jong-nam case.

"The North Korean side was informed that if there was no response by 10pm that night, the Malaysian government would have to take measures to protect its interests," he said. "It has been almost four days since that deadline and there has been no apology and no sign of it. For this reason the ambassador has been deemed 'no longer welcome'."

North Korea has so far denounced the incident as a political plot by its rivals and has not acknowledged that the dead man was Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of leader Kim Jong-un. However, North Korea has sent a high-ranking delegation and a veteran diplomat to claim the body - a request that Malaysia has so far refused.

Malaysia's move to expel a North Korean diplomat has further strained relations between the two countries after a series of mutual criticisms in recent times.

Ambassador Kang Chol has frequently criticized Malaysia's investigation and denied the North Korean government's involvement in the Kim Jong-nam case.

According to Sputnik