The United Nations on Tuesday called for calm while dealing with a diplomatic row between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Malaysia.
Speaking at a daily news briefing, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said he hoped "both parties to settle any differences through established diplomatic practice."
"Regarding DPRK's other activities, you will have seen the sentiments in our statement," said Haq in response to a reporter's question.
"And the bottom line is we want the DPRK to return to full compliance with all of the various UN resolutions that are in effect," he said.
The DPRK foreign ministry announced Monday that Malaysia's ambassador was labeled as a persona non grata, demanding the diplomat leave the country within 48 hours.
The decision came after Malaysia declared the ambassador of the DPRK to the country Kang Chol as a "persona non grata" on Saturday night and asked him to leave Malaysia within 48 hours, amid a row over investigation into the death of a DPRK male.
Kang and the DPRK government accused the Malaysian side of "colluding with hostile forces" in its investigation into the death of the DPRK man on Feb. 13 in Kuala Lumpur, and refused to trust the probe.
A DPRK national, who carried a diplomatic passport under the name of "Kim Chol," was attacked on Feb. 13 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. After seeking help from the airport staff, he died en route to hospital.
The Malaysian side said the DPRK man died a painful death minutes after being swabbed with a high dosage of lethal VX nerve agent after the body was examined.
Pyongyang claimed it was an anti-DPRK smear campaign and accused the Malaysian government of conniving with South Korea and the United States that intended to use the death of the DPRK citizen to tarnish its image and even to overthrow the DPRK system.
