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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Malaysia further downgrading ties with N.Korea a year after airport assassination |
| 2018-02-14 |
| [Al Ahram] One year after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother was assassinated at Kuala Lumpur's airport, Malaysia is further downgrading once-close ties with Pyongyang, sources familiar with the government's plans said. Kim Jong Nam was assassinated on Feb. 13, 2017 when two women smeared his face with VX nerve agent - which the U.N. lists as a weapon of mass destruction. The women claim they were tricked into believing they were part of a reality show, but U.S. and South Korea say the murder was orchestrated by Pyongyang. The brazen killing came as North Korea was starting to accelerate its missile tests and countries around the world came under mounting pressure to enforce ever-tightening U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang. The repercussions from the killing are still being felt. Malaysia is considering reducing the staff size of the North Korean mission in Kuala Lumpur to four by not renewing requests to replace diplomats when their terms end, according to a diplomatic source and an advisor to the government. Both declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. Malaysia is also turning down invitations to participate in North Korean events. A diplomatic source with direct knowledge of the situation said Malaysia declined an invitation to send an envoy to attend last week's military parade in Pyongyang. |
| Posted by:Fred |