Malaysia said that it will soon issue an order for all diplomatic staff and their dependents of the Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in its capital to leave the country in 48 hours over the latter's decision earlier to cut ties. 

Malaysia "deeply regrets" the decision, said a statement released on Friday by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry, noting that the decision is "unfriendly and unconstructive, disrespecting the spirit of mutual respect."

The country said that it reserves every right to respond to DPRK's decision, adding that the decision is compelled by DPRK's decision to close its embassy in Pyongyang, which had already been suspended since 2017.

Pyongyang on Friday announced the total severance of diplomatic relations with Malaysia over the extradition of a citizen of the DPRK to the United States.

The announcement was made in a foreign ministry statement published on state media KCNA. 

The country's foreign affairs ministry also warned that Washington would "pay a price" for its action.

On March 17, Malaysian authorities "committed an unpardonable crime... of forcibly delivering the innocent citizen (of DPRK) to the United States," the statement read.

DPRK's foreign ministry "hereby announces total severance of the diplomatic relations with Malaysia," the statement added, slamming what it called a "hostile act" committed against Pyongyang "in subservience to the U.S. pressure."

In December 2019, a DPRK man named Mun Chol Myong was arrested in Malaysia after the U.S. accused him of laundering funds through front companies and issuing fraudulent documents to support illicit shipments to DPRK.

Mun, who had lived in Malaysia and the region for a decade with his family, denied FBI claims in court, arguing that the charges were politically motivated. On March 3, he lost his final appeal in Malaysia's top court against extradition to the United States to face these charges.

The DPRK said that the man who engaged for years in the "legitimate external trade activities in Singapore" was "innocent," insisting that it was an "absurd fabrication and sheer plot to argue that he was involved in 'illegal money laundering.'"

The ministry accused Malaysian authorities of "pro-U.S. subservience" and negotiating a "free delivery" of weapons from the U.S. in exchange for extraditing the DPRK citizen.

"We warn in advance that the U.S. - the backstage manipulator and main culprit of this incident - will also be made to pay a due price," KCNA reported.

On Thursday U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the administration of President Joe Biden would complete a review of its DPRK policy in the next few weeks in close consultation with allies.

(With input from agencies)