Malaysia recalls envoy from N. Korea

Malaysia recalls envoy from N. Korea

North Korean ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol speaks during a news conference at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. (Reuters photo)
North Korean ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol speaks during a news conference at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. (Reuters photo)

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia said Monday it has recalled its ambassador from Pyongyang in connection with the suspected assassination of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Kyodo News reported on Monday the Malaysian Foreign Ministry also summoned the North Korean ambassador Kang Chol in the morning to lodge a protest with him over remarks he made Friday over the handling of the body of Kim Jong Nam.

The Malaysian government "views the criticism made by the [North Korean] ambassador" as "baseless," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Malaysia said its ambassador in Pyongyang has returned for "consultations," as a diplomatic spat between the two countries following the murder of the brother, possibly with poison, a week ago intensifies and local police step up efforts to piece together the details of what happened.

The statement, released shortly after Mr Kang's car entered the ministry compound in the morning, said Malaysia "takes very seriously any unfounded attempt to tarnish its reputation".

Malaysian police said Sunday they are hunting, in close cooperation with Interpol, more North Korean suspects over the killing, in which he was attacked by two women at Kuala Lumpur International Airport before his departure to Macao.

The police said four North Korean men flew out of Malaysia on Feb 13, the day the brother, who was found with a diplomatic passport, died while being transported to a hospital from the airport.

Besides the four men, who were carrying normal passports, the police said they are looking for three others, including one who has already been identified as North Korean, in connection with the case.

Malaysia is only one of a handful of countries in the world that has a diplomatic mission in Pyongyang.

Malaysia and North Korea opened embassies in each other's capital cities in early 2004 and 2003, respectively, which was followed by an agreement on reciprocal visa-free visits.

In 2009, Malaysia became the first country whose people can travel to North Korea without a visa.

Despite a history of close relations, shortly before midnight Friday, ambassador Kang suddenly appeared outside the morgue of a hospital in Kuala Lumpur where Kim's body has been held following an autopsy Wednesday and denounced the Malaysian government.

"We will categorically reject the result of the post-mortem conducted unilaterally," he said, demanding Malaysia release the body without further delay.

He called the incident a "political plot" by South Korea and other "hostile forces" against North Korea.

The ambassador's accusation marked North Korea's first public reaction to the murder of the 45-year-old half-brother, who had spent many years in foreign countries.

Mr Kang said the embassy had tried to stop the autopsy because the deceased was a "diplomatic passport holder" and "our citizen," who was subject to consular protection.

The ambassador's remarks came also just a couple of hours after the first arrest of a North Korean man in connection with the murder.

AP also reported from the Malaysian capital on Monday security camera footage obtained by Japanese television appears to show the careful and deliberate attack.

The footage, obtained by Fuji TV and often grainy and blurred, seems to show two women approaching Kim from different directions as he stands at a ticketing kiosk at the budget terminal of the Kuala Lumpur airport. One -- apparently a Vietnamese woman now under arrest -- comes up behind him and appears to hold something over his mouth for a few seconds.

Then the women turn and calmly walk off in different directions. More footage shows Kim walking up to airport workers and security officials, gesturing at his eyes and seemingly asking for help. He then walks alongside as they lead him to the airport clinic.

Fuji TV has not revealed how it acquired the video footage, which was taken by a series of security cameras as Kim arrived for a flight to Macau, where he had a home.

The New York Times reported from Seoul the acting president of South Korea on Monday called the killing of Kim "an intolerable crime against humanity and terrorist act" masterminded by the North Korean regime.

The remarks were the strongest yet by the South Korean leadership linking the North Korean government, led by Kim Jong Un, to the brazen killing of Kim.

In his remarks, Mr Hwang also urged the world to hold North Korea accountable for the killing.

"It starkly demonstrated the North Korean regime’s recklessness and cruelty as well as the fact that it will do anything, everything in order to maintain its power," Hwang said during a meeting of security-related cabinet ministers on Monday. "We need to cooperate with the international community to ensure that North Korea will pay a just price for its terrorist act."

Mr Hwang’s comments on Monday escalated pressure on North Korea by formally accusing Kim Jong Un’s government of carrying out a terrorist attack, which could encourage other nations, including the US, to try to punish the government in Pyongyang.

Mr Hwang also instructed his government to strengthen precautions and vigilance against possible North Korean terrorist attacks against the government and citizens of South Korea. He also warned that North Korea may attempt military provocations to divert international attention from Kim’s assassination.

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