KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Malaysia is protecting its “sovereignty and dignity” by expelling the North Korean ambassador, the prime minister said Monday, as relations between the countries unraveled further over the poisoning of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half brother of North Korea’s leader.
North Korea announced shortly before the deadline for its ambassador to leave Malaysia on Monday that it also was ordering out Malaysia’s envoy to Pyongyang.
In an attack many believe was orchestrated by North Korea, Kim died less than 20 minutes after two women wiped VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport on Feb. 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 VX, a banned chemical weapon.
On Monday, Prime Minister Najib Razak said the decision to expel Kang sent a clear message.
