All North Korean Diplomats Expelled From Malaysia

Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato Seri Hishamuddin Hussein. (Agus Setiawan/Antara)

JAKARTA - Malaysia today expelled all diplomats at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in accordance with a decision from the Malaysian Government announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 19, 2021.

"The expulsion has been carried out in accordance with Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961," said Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Seri Hishamuddin Hussein in a statement to the media in Kuala Lumpur, reported by Antara, Sunday, March 21.

He emphasized that the Malaysian Government must take this action as a response to the DPRK Decree of 19 March 2021 unilaterally and it is not at all responsible for severing diplomatic relations with Malaysia.

"The actions of the Malaysian Government have become a necessity to protect Malaysian sovereignty and safeguard our national interests," he said.

These actions, he said, were a reminder that Malaysia would never tolerate any attempt to interfere with Malaysia's domestic affairs and the judiciary, disrespect the Malaysian system of government, and continue to create unnecessary tensions that go against the rules-based international order.