DPRK declares Malaysian ambassador "persona non grata"

The foreign ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced Monday that Malaysia's ambassador is labeled as a persona non grata, demanding the diplomat leave the country within 48 hours from 10:00 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) on Sunday.

The foreign ministry announced without elaboration the decision in a brief statement carried by the official news agency KCNA.

The decision came after Malaysia declared the ambassador of the DPRK to the country Kang Chol as a "persona non grata" on Saturday night and asked him to leave Malaysia within 48 hours, amid a row over investigation into the death of a DPRK male.

Kang and the DPRK government accused the Malaysian side several times of "colluding with hostile forces" in its investigation into the death of the DPRK man on Feb. 13 in Kuala Lumpur, and refused to trust the probe.

A DPRK national, identified as Kim Chol, was attacked on Feb. 13 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. After seeking help from the airport staff, he died en route to hospital.

 Source: Xinhua