KUALA LUMPUR – Since North Korea announced yesterday that it is severing ties with Malaysia, its embassy in Jalan Batai in Bukit Damansara has been the focal point for local and foreign media.
Reporters started converging outside the embassy as early as 7.30am today. By 11am, some 40 local and international media personnel were seen waiting outside, monitoring the movements there after Malaysia ordered all North Korean diplomatic staff and their dependents to leave the country within 48 hours.
Bernama noted several individuals, believed to be embassy staff, entering the building as early as 8.15am. The embassy is said to have about 20 staff and dependents.
About 10.20am, medical personnel from a private hospital were seen entering the premises in a van, likely to conduct swab tests on those who will be returning to Pyongyang. According to reporters outside the embassy, sources had indicated that the staff and dependents will likely leave for Pyongyang tomorrow via Beijing.
There were movements of vehicles in and out of the embassy building until the gates were closed at 12.30pm. A police patrol car with two personnel were seen outside the embassy.
The embassy was helmed by charge’d affairs Kim Yu Song. North Korea’s last ambassador to the country was Kang Chol, who was expelled in 2017 over his provocative remarks related to the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Attempts to contact Yu Song and Counsellor Song Ki Chol since yesterday saw no response.
Pyongyang announced yesterday that it would sever diplomatic relations with Malaysia after a court here early this month ruled that a North Korean businessman could be extradited to the United States to face money-laundering charges.
Wisma Putra had said it deeply regretted North Korea’s decision and will, in turn, close the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang, of which operations had already been suspended since 2017.
Wisma Putra had in a statement said the Malaysian government will also issue an order for all diplomatic staff and their dependents at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur to leave Malaysia within 48 hours. – Bernama, March 20, 2021
