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| On October 8, 2020 (local time), the North Korean embassy consul Kim Yoo-song stands outside the Doota Courthouse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. © AFP=News1 © News1 Reporter Dongwon Lee |
Moon Cheol-myeong, 56, who was recently repatriated from Malaysia to the United States on charges of violating UN sanctions on North Korea, was detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the 20th (local time). Moon became the first North Korean to be handed over to the United States for trial.
The Hill, a political media outlet on the 21st, cited the Associated Press and reported as such.
Moon supplied items that were prohibited to be sent to North Korea (luxury items such as alcohol, watches, etc.) under UN sanctions, made false documents for illegal export, and is accused of laundering money. Moon is denying all charges in the series.
Moon’s arrest warrant was issued by a Washington DC federal court judge in May 2019. In the same month, Moon was arrested by Malaysian authorities. The Malaysian government approved Moon’s delivery to the United States in December of that year.
However, Moon raised an objection, saying he feared that he would not receive a fair trial in the United States. His lawyers also argued that “there is a political motive. It is to intensify pressure on North Korea because of North Korea’s missile program.”
However, on March 9 this year, the Malaysian Supreme Court dismissed Mr. Moon’s allegations and, accordingly, the repatriation of Mr. Moon to the United States could proceed, the AP reported.
North Korea decided to cut off diplomatic relations with Malaysia on the 19th in response to Malaysia’s decision.
In response, the Malaysian government also ordered North Korean embassy staff and their families to leave within 48 hours. On the weekend, 33 employees and their families of North Korean Embassy in Lasia left Malaysia on the 21st.
Meanwhile, Malaysia and North Korea have maintained friendly relations after establishing diplomatic relations in 1973.
After the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Kim Jong-nam with a VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13, 2017, he was engulfed in a diplomatic conflict, but it did not lead to diplomatic break.