(VOVworld) - Malaysia has expelled North Korea's ambassador Kang Chol, saying he is not welcomed in Malaysia and giving him 48 hours to leave the country.

North Korea's ambassador Kang Chol left the Malaysian Foreign Ministry in a car on February 20th. (Photo: EPA/VNA)

The announcement was made on Saturday after the North Korean ambassador failed to answer the summon to meet with Malaysia’s foreign ministry on the same day. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said no representative of North Korea turn up for the meeting, and the Ministry has sent a notice to the Embassy of North Korea in Kuala Lumpur, asking Kang Chol to leave Malaysia within 48 hours.

Three weeks ago a North Korean passport holder named Kim Chol was found dead at the Kuala Lumpur airport, triggering diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Malaysia said Kim Chol was poisoned, while North Korea said the causes of death were heart attacks, diabetes and hypertension.