Malaysia rejects reports it violates UN sanctions on North Korea - Foreign Ministry

Malaysia rejects claims that it has violated sanctions imposed by the United Nations on North Korea.

The Foreign Ministry, in a statement here today, said Malaysia viewed with serious concern on recent reports in the media that insinuated Malaysia's non compliance with the sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

"Malaysia categorically rejects any such insinuation," it said.

The ministry said Malaysia valued highly the important work being carried out by the UNSC Sanctions Committee on North Korea by ensuring the full implementation of all the relevant resolutions.

The resolutions were namely Resolution 1718 (2006) and the UNSC panels of experts established pursuant to Resolutions 1874 (2009), respectively.

"Malaysia had provided the required response to the queries raised by the panel of experts and will fully cooperate with these bodies as it is done in the past," it said.

The media reports, which quoted a draft of the UNSC report, stated that North Korea was evading international sanctions by having a network of overseas companies, including in Malaysia.

A foreign media reported that North Korean intelligence ran an arms operation out of Malaysia, called Glocom, and two companies linked to the trade were International Global System and International Golden Services.

According to the United Nations report drafted for the Security Council, Glocom is a front company run by North Korean intelligence agents that sell battlefield radio equipment in violation of the United Nations sanctions.

Ties between Malaysia and North Korea have been strained following the killing of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at Kuala Lumpur airport on Feb 13.

Jong-nam was at the KL International Airport 2 (klia2) to board a flight to Macau when two women suddenly appeared before him and allegedly wiped his face with the palms of their hands which contained what was later identified as the VX nerve agent.

Jong-nam reportedly sought help at a customer service counter at the airport and was rushed to the Putrajaya Hospital, but died on the way. He had come to Malaysia on Feb 6.

-- BERNAMA