Malaysia–North Korea relations
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Malaysia–North Korea relations[lower-alpha 1] were once strong but deteriorated following the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong-nam in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia |
North Korea |
---|---|
Diplomatic mission | |
Embassy of Malaysia, Pyongyang | Embassy of North Korea, Kuala Lumpur |
Envoy | |
Ambassador Vacant | Ambassador Vacant |
Malaysia was once one of the few countries with which North Korea enjoyed functional diplomatic and economic relationships. However, ties between the two countries have disintegrated. Malaysia had an embassy in Pyongyang,[1] and North Korea had an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.[2]
Relations between the two countries deteriorated in 2017, in the aftermath of the assassination of Kim Jong-nam in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which made global headlines and sparked a major diplomatic row between the two countries.[3] In retaliation for Malaysia's refusal to release Kim's body pending the results of an autopsy, staff at the Malaysian embassy were prevented from leaving North Korea, and were only allowed to return home after Malaysia relented to North Korea's request to hand over Kim's remains (after an autopsy had been performed) and two North Korean nationals who had been detained for questioning in Malaysia.[4]
Amid the 2018–19 Korean peace process, Malaysia announced it would re-open its embassy in North Korea and resume relations. Because of ongoing bilateral complications, the Malaysian embassy remained vacant.[5][6][7] North Korea severed ties with Malaysia on 19 March 2021 due to the latter's extradition of a North Korean national to the United States.[8][9] The same day, the Malaysian government declared all North Korean diplomatic staff and their dependents personae non gratae and ordered them to leave the country within 48 hours.[10][11][12] As of 2024, Malaysia is the only country in Southeast Asia that does not maintain diplomatic relations with North Korea[13] and bans its people from travelling to the country.[14]