Malaysia will face North Korea for the Asia Cup 2019 qualifying round on June 8, the Asia Football Confederation (AFC) said today.
AFC said North Korea has until April 14 to find a neutral venue to hold the match.
If not, the Asian football body will decide a new location for the game, it said in a statement.
Malaysia was earlier scheduled to face North Korea in Pyongyang on March 28 but this was postponed for security reasons.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) submitted an application to the AFC to hold the match at a neutral venue.
This is due to strained diplomatic ties between the two countries following the death of Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of Kim Jong-un, at KLIA2 on Feb 13.
Malaysia expelled North Korean envoy Kang Chol for being "rude" in disparaging Malaysian investigations into the death.
North Korea has since barred nine Malaysians - three diplomatic staff and their family members - from leaving, prompting Malaysia to do the same for the 315 North Koreans in the country.
However, 50 North Koreans will be deported to Pyongyang, from Sarawak because their work permits have expired. Sarawak has immigration autonomy.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Malaysia is not picking a fight with the hermit nation, but was forced to take the position after North Korea "assassinate its citizen" on Malaysian soil, using a nerve agent VX.
The autopsy report showed the deceased died of organophosphate poisoning, with the substance consistent with VX.
North Korea has denied responsibility for the death, cast doubt that the deceased was Jong-nam and demanded the body be released to Pyongyang.
Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar had said that the body will be handed over to the Health Ministry as no family members have come to claim it. -Mkini
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