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PETALING JAYA: North Korean ambassador Kang Chol arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) about 4.45pm on Monday to check in for his flight out of the country, but not before taking a parting shot at Malaysia.
Just shy of the 6pm deadline set by the Malaysian Government, the ambassador, his wife and five-year-old child are to board a Malaysia Airlines economy class flight to Beijing departing at 6.25pm.
However, there is no information on their onward flight to Pyongyang.
Kang Chol was declared persona non grata on Saturday and given 48 hours to leave the country after he failed to appear when summoned by Wisma Putra.
He had been told to apologise for making claims that Malaysia was conspiring with South Korea in investigating the assassination of Kim Jong-nam.
Kang Chol is believed to have raked up nearly RM7,000 in excess baggage fees. He checked in four large boxes, three large luggage bags and a TV box.
A large crowd of journalists was at the airport when the ambassador arrived at the departure hall.
"The statements I've made are an expression of the righteous stand as ambassador of the Democratic Republic of North Korea (DPRK) in this country on the pre-targetted investigation by the Malaysian police," Kang Chol told the press in Korean via a translator.
"They have conducted Jong-nam's autopsy without the consent or attendance of the DPRK embassy and later arrested a DPRK citizen without any clear evidence showing his involvement in the incident.
"I expressed grave concern over the extreme measures taken by the Malaysian Government doing great harm to bilateral relations which have a history of more than 40 years," he said.
Earlier, at around 4pm, Kang Chol left the North Korean embassy in Jalan Batai here accompanied by an unidentified woman.
He had his luggage packed into his official vehicle, a Jaguar, and left with a police escort.
Diplomatic ties between Malaysia and North Korea have soured since the murder of Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the KLIA 2 departure hall on Feb 13.
Kang Chol had criticised Malaysia's handling of the investigation, accusing it of being in cahoots with North Korea's enemies.
Malaysia has rubbished the claims, saying that the investigation has been carried out according to procedure.
Malaysian leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, have said they will not allow North Korea to insult the sovereignty of the nation.
Malaysia has since revoked the visa-free status for North Korean visitors travelling here.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/03/06/kang-chol-checks-in-for-flight-out-of-malaysia/#99kHvjyzTkUCvlvo.99
