It is not unusual for North Korea to declare the Malaysian envoy to the republic a "persona non grata" in retaliation, Wisma Putra said.

"This reciprocal action is normal in diplomacy," its deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Raja Nurshirwan Zainal Abidin said in a statement.

"It should be noted that the Malaysian ambassador has been recalled by the government. He is presently in Malaysia and has been in Malaysia for sometime now."

North Korea's official newswire KCNA reported that the hermit nation declared the Malaysian envoy a persona non grata (person not appreciated).

This comes after Wisma Putra expelled Kang Chol, North Korea's envoy to Malaysia.

He left the country via a flight to Beijing today.

Speaking to reporters at KLIA, he expressed grave concern over the expulsion which would undermine bilateral ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Kang Chol was expelled because of his "rude" remarks over Malaysia's investigations into the death of Kim Jong-nam.

Authorities said Jong-nam, the half brother of Kim Jong-un, was murdered at KLIA2 on Feb 13.

The autopsy report showed he died of organophosphate poisoning with the substance having qualities consistent with the nerve agent VX.

North Korea had cast doubt over the Malaysian probe and denied any hand in Jong-nam's death.

A Vietnamese woman and an Indonesia woman were charged with the murder at the Sepang Magistrate's Court last week.

Police are seeking for more North Korean nationals in connection with the case, including a diplomat.

A high-level delegation from Pyongyang is in Kuala Lumpur over the matter.