Malaysia expel North Korean ambassador

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is protecting its “sovereignty and dignity” by expelling the North Korean ambassador, the prime minister said yesterday, as relations between the countries frayed over the poisoning of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader.

In an attack many believe was orchestrated by Pyongyang, Kim died less than 20 minutes after two women wiped VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13, authorities say. The women, one from Vietnam and one from Indonesia, have been charged with murder.

North Korea has denied any role in the killing and accused Malaysia of conspiring with its enemies.

North Korean Ambassador Kang Chol has rejected a Malaysian autopsy that found Kim was killed with

that test their defensive readiness against possible aggression from the North. VX nerve agent, a banned chemical weapon.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Razak said the decision to expel Kang sent a clear message.

“It means that we are firm in defending our sovereignty and dignity,” Najib said. “Don’t ever insult our country and don’t try to cause disruptions here.”

Kang faced a Monday deadline to leave the country after authorities here declared him “persona non grata” on Saturday.

Malaysia’s finding that VX killed Kim boosted speculation that North Korea was somehow behind the attack.

Experts say the oily poison was almost certainly produced in a sophisticated state weapons laboratory, and North Korea is widely believed to possess large quantities of chemical weapons, including VX.— AFP.

North Korea criticises the annual drills and has previously conducted missile launches to coincide with