North Korea Hits the Brakes on Malaysia After a Court Move
In a dramatic turn of events that would make a soap opera blush, North Korea has decided to cut all diplomatic ties with Malaysia. Why? Because a Malaysian court recently decided a North Korean suspect could be sent straight to the U.S. to face money‑laundering charges.
What Went Down
- On March 9, Malaysia’s top court handed down the decision: the North Korean named Mun Chol‑myong can be extradited to the United States.
- Mun, who was arrested in 2019, is accused by U.S. officials of shuffling money through front companies and forging documents to back illegal shipments to North Korea.
- He fought the extradition under the claim that the request was politically motivated.
North Korea’s Knee‑jerk Reaction
The foreign affairs ministry slammed Malaysia’s move as a “nefarious act” and claimed that the country had “offered our citizen as a sacrifice” against U.S. hostility. According to the ministry, the decision smashed the foundation of bilateral relations, which once rested on respect for sovereignty.
Crunchy Backstory
These fireworks aren’t the first time North Korea’s relationship with Malaysia has been fizzling. Back in February 2017, “Kim Jong‑nam” (Kim Jong‑un’s estranged brother) was tragically killed in Kuala Lumpur after two women laced his face with the nasty VX nerve agent—hit the United Nations’ top “weapon of mass destruction” list.
North Korea blamed Washington for the incident, calling the U.S. the “backstage manipulator” and warning it would “pay a price.”
What’s Next?
Just a week earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the Biden administration will reassess its North Korea policy in the coming weeks—probably in tight liaison with allies.
So, what’s the takeaway? Diplomacy went from “hello” to “goodbye” in a blink, swayed by legal decisions, tangled politics, and a lingering kingdom‑bow pointed at the U.S. All this drama will likely spill over into the next phase of international affairs. Stay tuned!
