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The deceased Kim Jong Nam, left, and his half-brother, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Shizuo Kambayashi, Wong Maye-E

Malaysia expels North Korean ambassador over Kim murder

He is expected to leave Malaysia within 48 hours.

MALAYSIA HAS EXPELLED North Korea’s ambassador, giving him 48 hours to leave the country as a diplomatic row deepened over the assassination of the half-brother of Pyongyang’s leader.

Kim Jong-Nam, 45, was poisoned on 13 February at Kuala Lumpur International Airport with VX, a nerve agent so deadly that it is classed as a weapon of mass destruction.

The dramatic killing has sharply soured relations between Malaysia and North Korea, which has not acknowledged the dead man’s identity, vehemently protested the murder investigation and accused Kuala Lumpur of being in cahoots with its enemies.

Arch-rival South Korea has blamed the North for the murder, citing what they say was a standing order from leader Kim Jong-Un to kill his exiled half-brother who may have been seen as a potential rival.

“The expulsion of the DPRK (North Korea) Ambassador is… an indication of the government’s concern that Malaysia may have been used for illegal activities,” Malaysia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The ambassador has been declared persona non grata” after Malaysia demanded but did not receive an apology over Pyongyang’s attack on its investigation of the case, the statement added.

“He is expected to leave Malaysia within 48 hours.”

The row erupted last month when Malaysian police rejected North Korean diplomats’ demands to hand over Kim’s body.

Ambassador Kang Chol reacted by saying that the investigation was politically motivated and that Kuala Lumpur was conspiring with “hostile forces”.

Malaysia then summoned Kang for a dressing-down over his accusation, with Prime Minister Najib Razak describing the ambassador’s statement as “totally uncalled for (and) diplomatically rude”.

Malaysia also recalled its envoy to Pyongyang and has cancelled a rare visa-free travel deal with North Korea, putting the skids under once cozy ties.

The rift widened on Thursday when a senior North Korean diplomat leading a delegation to Kuala Lumpur reiterated Pyongyang’s assertion that Kim had died of a heart attack, dismissing the use of a nerve agent.

The foreign ministry statement said that on February 28 the government had already issued Pyongyang a same-day deadline for a written apology over Kang’s accusations.

“No such apology has been made, neither has there been any indication that one is forthcoming,” it added. “For this reason, the Ambassador has been declared Persona Non Grata.”

© – AFP, 2017

Read: U2 top Irish Rich List with a combined wealth of €645 million

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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
    Favourite ecrowley ecrowley
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    Feb 6th 2024, 5:25 PM

    €3b on meds. In this instance, fair play hse. Lots of countries wouldn’t spend that kinda money to help a small minority of patients.

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    Mute Kathleen Peters
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    Feb 6th 2024, 5:29 PM

    It’s great talking about it,but will the people on medical cards be actually given it,I’ve 6 different autoimmunes and I’m on 28 tablets a day,and in the last 6 months,I’ve not got medication that’s not the generic one,they do not work as good as the proper ones,especially the 1s that I take 3 times a day,until they were changed,I had a better quality of life,and had the symptons under control,I can understand they giving the cheaper make to cut costs,but because I’ve a medical card,I’ve to take what I’m giving,When u have any autoimmunes they are so hard to treat,because mine came from some kind of virus in January 2018,because it went into the brain,that’s what caused all the autoimmunes,I gave almost 2 years in constant pain,so many autoimmunes u can’t see,mental health is so bad aswell

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    Mute James Carolan
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    Feb 6th 2024, 7:19 PM

    @Kathleen Peters: Generics contain the same active ingredient as the branded meds. They work exactly the same and are regulated the same by the HPRA for use in Ireland. Ask any doctor or pharmacist. You are letting your mind think that they are not as effective.

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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Feb 6th 2024, 9:19 PM

    It takes a right wagon to whinge about the free medication they receive via the medical card scheme. Entitled moaner.

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    Mute michael graham
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    Feb 6th 2024, 9:46 PM

    @Sun Rise: horrible comment

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    Mute Regular John
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    Feb 6th 2024, 11:29 PM

    @Sun Rise:
    What an absolute prîçk you are. Shame on you.

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    Mute alan scott
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    Feb 7th 2024, 5:34 PM

    @Sun Rise: free medication you say? when healthcare should be about need and not how deep your pocket is.

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    Mute alan scott
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    Feb 7th 2024, 5:38 PM

    @Sun Rise: And for your information the HSE is a system paid for by the taxpayer. It’s not free by your assertion

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    Mute Emer Daly
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    Feb 6th 2024, 7:16 PM

    So you’re telling me there are life saving drugs that could have saved lives before are only being used now. My heart sank after reading this.

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    Mute James Carolan
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    Feb 6th 2024, 7:21 PM

    @Emer Daly: They have been in use since they were approved by the HPRA. The HSE may not have been giving them for free to people on medical cards because of the cost.

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