Among the vans seen entering the premises were those from a private hospital in Petaling Jaya which ferried medical personnel donning personal protective equipment (PPE) presumably to conduct Covid-19 tests, which is a requirement before anyone can fly out of the country.

Since its announcement on Friday, the embassy at Jalan Batai in Bukit Damansara has been the focal point for local and foreign media.

This morning, reporters started converging outside the embassy as early as 7.30am. And by 11am, some 40 local and international media personnel were seen waiting outside to monitor the movements there.

The embassy is said to have about 20 staff and dependents, according to Bernama, whose reporter was told by sources that the group will most probably leave for Pyongyang tomorrow via Beijing.

There were movements of vehicles in and out of the embassy building until the gates were closed at 12.30pm. A police patrol car with two personnel was seen outside the embassy.

The embassy was helmed by charge d’affaires Kim Yu Song. North Korea’s last ambassador to the country was Kang Chol, who was expelled in 2017 over his provocative remarks relating to the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Bernama’s attempt to contact Yu Song and counsellor Song Ki Chol since Friday had been futile.

Pyongyang announced on Friday it would sever diplomatic relations with Malaysia after a court here early this month ruled that a North Korean businessman could be extradited to the US to face money laundering charges.

Wisma Putra said it deeply regretted North Korea’s decision and retaliated by closing the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang, of which the operation had already been suspended since 2017.