Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Relations of North Korea (Korut) and Malaysia heated up. On Friday (19/3/2021), North Korea broke off diplomatic relations with the neighboring country.
Pyongyang’s foreign ministry said it was responding to Malaysia’s extradition of a North Korean national to the United States (US) in early March. This move he described as an “unpardonable crime” committed under “blind adherence” to US pressure.
What is the chronology?
On March 9, a North Korean man, Mun Chol Myong, lost his final appeal at Malaysia’s top court against extradition to the US to face money laundering charges. According to his lawyer, Mun denied the claim of leading a criminal group that violated sanctions by supplying prohibited goods to the North and laundering funds through front companies.
Mun, who is in his 50s, faces four charges of money laundering and two money laundering conspiracies. The allegations relate primarily to his job in Singapore.
There is a case of a business in Singapore sending luxury goods, such as liquor and watches, to North Korea. This is, in its rules, prohibited under sanctions that the United Nations and a number of countries including the US have imposed on Pyongyang over its weapons program.
Afterward, the state news agency KCNA reported that the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced “a complete severance of diplomatic relations with Malaysia”. He said the extradited citizens had engaged in “legitimate” trading activities in Singapore.
The move was taken after the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to South Korea (South Korea). The second meeting of the Asian tour to strengthen the united front against North Korea and China.
Malaysia has become one of North Korea’s few allies. However, turmoil occurred when the murder of Kim Jong Un’s half brother, Kim Jong Nam on a flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Prior to Kim Jong Nam’s assassination, Malaysia and North Korea enjoyed a very warm relationship. But after that, reciprocal visa-free travel arrangements for visitors were canceled.
Meanwhile, North Koreans who had worked in coal mines were also repatriated. One of them is in the state of Sarawak on the island of Kalimantan.
(boss / boss)
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