'N Korea will lose more if Malaysia gives them democratic boot'

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s warning to North Korea yesterday might mean Malaysia will sever diplomatic ties with the reclusive state, according to analysts.

This would also come at no cost to Malaysia, the analysts said.

“Worse comes to worst, we can sever diplomatic ties with North Korea.

“This country, from an economic perspective, is insignificant (to Malaysia).

“We would have no loss but will actually benefit if we severed ties with North Korea,” senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore Oh Ei Sun told Malaysiakini today.

Ahmad Zahid had yesterday issued a stern warning to North Korea that it would have a “heavy price” to pay if it did not cease its hard-hitting statements against Malaysia.

North Korea had previously accused Malaysia of trying to hide something and colluding with Pyongyang’s enemies in the murder case involving Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The Malaysian government has dismissed these claims as baseless allegations.

Oh said North Korea should think twice before continuing their barrage of accusations against Malaysia, as they do not have many friends on the international stage.

He also pointed out that Malaysia has been a host to negotiations between Pyongyang and several countries, such as the US and South Korea.

“Pyongyang has to think twice before continuing to attack us as they stand to lose more than they do to benefit,” he said.

Analyst Razak Baginda also agreed with Oh, saying that Ahmad Zahid probably knew Malaysia could afford to damage its relations with North Korea.

“When Ahmad Zahid said that it could pay a heavy price, I believe that could mean that we could sever bilateral relations with North Korea.

“I mean, if you look at what are the diplomatic weapons that we have, one of which is the diplomatic relations with North Korea,” he told Malaysiakini.

Severing those ties with North Korea would come at no cost to Malaysia, he said, while it would be a cost to Pyongyang as it is desperately looking for friends.

‘When two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled’

Malaysia is actually quite irrelevant in this fight between North and South Korea, he said, but had become a victim in this.

“It is like the expression, ‘When two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled’.

“Malaysia is like the grass with North and South Korea fighting.

“Malaysia is just the playground in a way, so I suppose if you look at Malaysia’s relationship with both of them, obviously South Korea is far more important to Malaysia than North Korea,” he said.

South Korea, he pointed out, is a major trading partner with Malaysia.

At the same time, he said, whatever actions Malaysia takes now, North Korea will be upset and blame Malaysia anyway.

“I think what Ahmad Zahid was really a threat, saying that it’s your loss, not ours if we sever relations.

“There is nothing else we can do, it is not like we have excellent relations with North Korea,” he said.- Mkini