KUALA LUMPUR – A bus carrying North Korean embassy officers and staff was seen leaving the building in Jalan Batai, Damansara, about 11am today.
The vehicle was reportedly there since 9.15am to ferry diplomatic employees to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where Bernama reported that it arrived at 11.45am.
There were also staff and their family members who chose to leave for the airport on their own, reported Sinar Harian.
The North Koreans are scheduled to take a flight home this evening, transiting in Beijing, China.
The embassy has about 30 staff and their family members, all of whom were screened for Covid-19 as per travel requirements.
The North Korean flag and embassy signage have been removed from the premises.
Pyongyang on Friday announced that it is ending diplomatic ties with Malaysia over the extradition of its citizen to the United States.
Last Wednesday, Malaysian authorities “committed an unpardonable crime… of forcibly delivering the innocent citizen to the US”, said the North’s Foreign Ministry in a statement.
The ministry “hereby announces (a) total severance of diplomatic relations with Malaysia”, it said, slamming the “hostile act” against Pyongyang “in subservience to US pressure”.
The statement described the individual as someone engaged in “legitimate external trade activities in Singapore”, insisting that it was a “fabrication... to argue that he was involved in ‘illegal money laundering’.”
On March 3, a North Korean national named Mun Chol-myong lost his final appeal in Malaysia’s top court against his extradition to the US to face money-laundering charges.
Mun, who has lived here for a decade with his family, was arrested in 2019 following the extradition request from Washington.
In court, he denied the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s claims that he led a criminal group that violated sanctions by supplying prohibited items to North Korea and laundered funds through front companies.
He faces four counts of money laundering and two of conspiracy to launder money.
The allegations relate mainly to his work in Singapore, said his lawyers.
It is unclear what Mun is accused of supplying, but there have been cases of businesses in Singapore sending luxury items, such as liquor and watches, to the North.
The export to North Korea of some luxury goods has been banned as part of sweeping sanctions imposed on Pyongyang by the United Nations and other countries – including the US – over the hermit nation’s weapons programmes. – The Vibes, March 21, 2021
