KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia deeply regrets North Korea’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with it, said Wisma Putra.
“Malaysia denounces the decision as unfriendly and unconstructive, disrespecting the spirit of mutual respect and good neighbourly relations among members of the international community,” it said in a statement today.
Putrajaya is now compelled to close the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang, whose operations had already been suspended since 2017.
Wisma Putra also said the government will issue an order for all diplomatic staff and their dependents at the North Korean embassy here to leave the country within 48 hours.
It was reported that Pyongyang today announced it will cut diplomatic relations with Putrajaya, after a Malaysian court earlier this month ruled that a North Korean businessman could be extradited to the United States to face money-laundering charges.
North Korea’s unilateral decision is unwarranted, disproportionate and disruptive to the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region, said Wisma Putra.
It said Malaysia reserves every right to respond to the North’s decision, so as to protect its sovereignty and safeguard its national interests.
“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 and peaceful coexistence among nations.”
On the businessman in question, Mun Chol-myong, Wisma Putra said as a country that upholds justice, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, Malaysia ensured that his extradition was conducted in accordance with these principles.
On the same premise, it said, Malaysia had to set aside a series of North Korean demarches for the Malaysian executive to intervene in the judiciary.
“The extradition was carried out only after the due legal process had been exhausted.”
Wisma Putra stressed that Mun’s rights while in custody were guaranteed and fulfilled, including his access to a lawyer, as well as consular assistance and visits by his family.
He was detained by Malaysian authorities on May 14, 2019, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued under Section 13(1)(b) of the Extradition Act 1992, following allegations of conspiracy to launder money, as well as violating United Nations sanctions.
“Such acts are also offences under Malaysian laws. He appeared before the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on December 13, 2019, and the court allowed committal against him.”
Mun’s application for a writ of habeas corpus at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on December 29, 2019 and his appeal at the Federal Court on October 8 last year were dismissed, as the courts found that his application and appeal were unjustified and failed to meet requirements under the Extradition Act, said Wisma Putra.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, in a tweet, said all of Malaysia’s diplomatic staff and their dependents at the embassy in Pyongyang returned home in 2017 following the suspension of operations.
He said this in reply to a post inquiring about the safety of Malaysian staff there. – Bernama, March 19, 2021
