19 Mar 2021 | 07:00 AM UTC
Malaysia, North Korea: North Korea to cut diplomatic ties with Malaysia as of March 19
North Korea to sever diplomatic relations with Malaysia as of March 19, following the extradition of citizen to the US.
Event
North Korea announced, March 19, that it would sever diplomatic ties with Malaysia. The policy came after a Malaysian court ruled that authorities could extradite a North Korean citizen to face charges in the US. US officials claim the suspect was part of a criminal group that had laundered money and exported luxury goods into North Korea in breach of UN sanctions; North Korea said that the citizen was innocent.
Context
It is not immediately clear if the latest diplomatic spat will impact travel between the two countries. Both Malaysia and North Korea held the other country’s citizens for several weeks and suspended visa-free travel after the assassination of Kim Jong-un's brother in Kuala Lumpur in February 2017. Authorities in Pyongyang or Kuala Lumpur could stop issuing visas following the severance of diplomatic ties, but such measures are unlikely to significantly impact travel in the near term due to ongoing international border restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. North Korea could also move to prevent the departure of resident Malaysian nationals or prohibit Malaysian business activity in the country. Additionally, North Korea warned that it would retaliate against the US in response to the extradition plan.
