North Korea: "Malaysian Authorities Hand Over Our Citizens to the US... Malaysia and the US Will Pay the Price" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea declared the severance of diplomatic relations with Malaysia, accusing "Malaysian authorities of falsely labeling our innocent citizen as a criminal and forcibly handing him over to the United States." It warned that the U.S., referred to as the 'mastermind behind the scenes,' "will pay the price."

On the 19th, North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned, in a statement titled "Injustice Cannot Escape the Stern Judgment of Justice," that "Malaysian authorities committed an unforgivable crime by falsely branding our innocent citizen as a 'criminal' and ultimately forcibly handing him over to the United States."

Earlier, on the 9th, the Malaysian Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by North Korean businessman Moon Cheol-myung, who requested to refuse extradition to the U.S., and decided to extradite him. Moon is accused of violating UN sanctions and laundering money on behalf of North Korea.

Regarding this, North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "This incident is a direct result of the U.S.'s heinous hostile acts aimed at isolating and crushing our republic and the pro-American humiliation of Malaysian authorities, which led to an anti-republic conspiracy collusion." It added, "As for the citizen in question, he has been engaged in legitimate foreign trade activities in Singapore for many years, and the allegation that he was involved in illegal money laundering is an absurd fabrication and a complete slander."

The Ministry further declared, "Malaysian authorities, blindly flattering the United States, our nation's greatest enemy, not only put our innocent citizen in the defendant's seat but ultimately handed him over to the U.S., utterly destroying the foundation of bilateral relations based on respect for sovereignty," and announced, "We are completely severing diplomatic relations with Malaysia."

The Ministry said, "From this moment on, Malaysian authorities will bear full responsibility for all consequences arising between the two sides," and "The United States, the mastermind and main culprit behind this incident, will also pay the appropriate price."