KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia on Friday called North Korea's decision to sever bilateral ties unfriendly, unconstructive and unconducive to regional stability, giving Pyongyang's embassy staff and their families 48 hours to leave the country.
"Malaysia had always considered the DPRK a close partner since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973," the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, using the abbreviation for the North's formal name. "Malaysia was among the earliest to have done so and continued to support the DPRK during their difficult times."