Expelled DPRK ambassador says "extreme measures" by Malaysia to harm bilateral ties

The ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Malaysia (DPRK), who has been expelled by the Malaysian government, on Monday expressed "grave concerns over the extreme measures taken" by Malaysia which will harm bilateral ties.

It is the first time that Ambassador Kang Chol spoke to the media after the Malaysian government declared him as "persona non grata" on Saturday.

He made the remarks in Korean at the Kuala Lumpur airport, where he will take a flight to leave the country, and were translated by a embassy staff.

"The statement I have made is an expression of the righteous stand as the ambassador of DPRK to this country, on the pre-targeted investigation by the Malaysian police, as they have conducted the autopsy without the consent of the DPRK embassy and later arrested a DPRK citizen without any clear evidence showing his involvement in the incident," Kang told reporters.

He said such "extreme measures taken by the Malaysian government" will do "great harm to the bilateral relations," which has a history of more than 40 years.

The expulsion of the ambassador came after Kang and the DPRK government accused the Malaysian side of "colluding with hostile forces" in its investigation into the death of a DPRK man at the Kuala Lumpur airport, and refused to recognize the investigation.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have been strained since an investigation into the Feb. 13 killing of the DPRK man, with a passport name of "Kim Chol." Malaysia revoked visa-free entry to DPRK citizens and recalled its ambassador in Pyongyang.

The Malaysian government on Monday also directed the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) not to send the national football team to Pyongyang, where a pre-scheduled match will be held between the two sides.

"The Malaysian government decision to expel the DPRK ambassador appears to have made it not safe for Malaysians to visit DPRK at this time," the FAM said in a statement, adding it has requested a change to the venue.

source: Xinhua