Decision a signal to US, warning to Asean

A policeman inspects a document outside the compounds of the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur on March 19,2021, after the country severed diplomatic ties with Malaysia in response to the extradition of a North Korean citizen to the US earlier this month. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN/ AFP)

PETALING JAYA: North Korea’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Malaysia was a signal to the United States and a warning to other Asean member states, rather than just about its relationship with Malaysia, says an expert on international affairs.

Solaris Strategies Singapore senior international affairs analyst Dr Mustafa Izzuddin said the “erratic decision” by North Korea would not lead to an escalation since ties between the two countries have yet to return to normalcy since the Kim Jong-nam assassination in 2017 and because of the absence of any bilateral trade agreement.