Timeline of important events in KL-Pyongyang relations: 1974 - North Korea opens its embassy in Kuala Lumpur 1995 - Malaysia hosted talks between North Korea and the United States over the former's nuclear programme. 2004 - Malaysia opens its embassy in Pyongyang 2009 - Beginning of greater engagement between Malaysian and North Korea. Malaysians allowed to travel to North Korea without visa, rise in North Korean imports from Malaysia, North Koreans arrive in Malaysia for work, Air Koryo started flights to Kuala Lumpur. 2017 - Feb 13, Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong-un's half brother was assassinated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). 2017 - March 4, North Korean Ambassador Kang Chol was declared a persona non grata and expelled within 48 hours for disparaging the murder investigation; two days later, visa free entry for North Koreans revoked. 2017 - March 7, North Korea stopped all nine Malaysians in the country from leaving. Malaysia reacted by forbidding North Koreans from entering or leaving the country. 2017 - March 30, all stranded Malaysians and North Koreans allowed to return to their respective countries following negotiations and the return of Jong-nam's body. 2018 - June 12, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was quoted as saying that Malaysia would reopen its embassy in Pyongyang and end the diplomatic row. However, there was no change in the status quo. 2021 - March 9, Kuala Lumpur High Court rejects North Korean businessman Mun Chol Myong's appeal from being extradited to the United States on money laundering charges. 2021 - March 19, Pyongyang announces it will end diplomatic ties with Kuala Lumpur due to the court's decision. 2021 - March 19, Malaysia responded, saying it deeply regrets North Korea's decision and denounced it as unfriendly and unconstructive, disrespecting the spirit of mutual respect and good neighbourly relations among members of the international community. Malaysia said it will also issue an order for all the diplomatic staff and their dependents at the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to leave the country within 48 hours.