30 October 2017•Update: 30 October 2017
By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia is planning to close its embassy in North Korea, as the government evaluates ties with the Korean regime led by Kim Jong-un.
Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday said the government was considering to close the Malaysian Embassy in Pyongyang and transfer the accreditation to Beijing.
Malaysia is also considering links with North Korea from various aspects including diplomatic, political and economic relations.
"Malaysia has taken steps to comply with all United Nations resolutions relating to the threat of North Korea," Razak said at the Parliament house, adding one of the resolutions was concerning the reduction of the number of North Korean diplomatic officers.
"Malaysia has also introduced a visa for entry of North Korean citizens to the country," he said.
The prime minister added that during his recent working visit to the U.S., both countries had expressed concern over the safety and security in the Asia-Pacific region threatened by North Korea's nuclear test programs and ballistic missile tests.
Malaysia's ties with North Korea began to erode since the murder of Kim Chol in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by a group of assassins, led by two foreign women.
Kim Chol was later identified as Kim Jong-, the estranged half-brother of North Korean ruler Jong-un.
Malaysia's envoy to North Korea was recalled days after Jong- death on Feb. 13, while the other embassy staff was held hostage by the administration led by Jong-un.
At the peak of , the Malaysian government expelled North Korean ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, giving envoy Kang Chol 48 hours to leave the country.
The murder, which was carried out by using VX nerve agent, and the probe , received global media attention.
