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.