Malaysia expels North Korean envoy over Kim Jong-nam's assassination

Malaysia said Saturday that it has expelled Pyongyang's top envoy in the latest diplomatic pressure over the killing of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry declared North Korean Ambassador Kang Chol a persona non grata and said he should leave the Southeast Asian country by 6 p.m. on Monday.

The censure represents Malaysia's determination to get to the bottom of the killing at the cost of decades-long diplomatic ties with the world's most isolated country.

Repeated calls to North Korea's embassy in Kuala Lumpur seeking comment on Malaysia's actions went unanswered.

The latest move came more than a week after Malaysia recalled its ambassador from Pyongyang over the killing of Kim that has been widely blamed on the communist country.

Sue Mi Terry, a former senior CIA analyst on North Korea, said the expulsion is a positive and important step signaling that there will be consequences for using weapons of mass destruction in an international airport.

"I doubt Malaysia will cut off diplomatic ties with North Korea although they should. They can start by kicking out North Koreans who are spies, slave laborers etc.," said Terry, now a managing director for business consultancy Bower Group Asia.

"They are other North Koreans in Malaysia that are doing illicit business. So if Malaysia don't want to completely cut off diplomatic relationship with North Korea, there are more steps Malaysia can and should take, like kicking out North Koreans," she said.

Kim was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb. 13 after two women allegedly smeared VX nerve agent on his face. VX is a highly lethal banned chemical weapon.

Malaysian police have said that eight North Koreans are suspects in the case, reinforcing widespread suspicion that North Korea could be behind Kim's killing.

Still, Pyongyang has denied any involvement and has blamed South Korea for the incident. North Korea has also repeatedly demanded that Malaysia hand over Kim's body.

Ri Jong-chol, one of the suspects, did not stray from the country's official line over the killing, claiming on Saturday that Malaysia's investigation is a plot to hurt the North's dignity.

Ri made the remarks to reporters around 3 a.m. at the North's Embassy in Beijing after being deported by Malaysia on Friday.

Known as an expert in chemistry, Ri was arrested days after the murder on suspicions that he may have been involved in making the nerve agent used for the murder or may have helped others run away after the killing. He has denied all the charges leveled against him. (Yonhap)