Italy Says to Expel North Korea Envoy Over Nuclear, Missile Tests

Italian foreign affairs minister Angelino Alfano speaks during a U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the acute threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, on the sideline of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York on Sept. 21, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid

MILAN—North Korea’s ambassador to Italy will be expelled from the country in protest over Pyongyang’s recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Italian Foreign Minister was quoted on Sunday as saying.

However, Alfano also told Italian daily La Repubblica that Italy would not sever its diplomatic relations with North Korea because he said it was useful to maintain a channel of communication.