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North Korea has temporarily banned Malaysians from leaving the country to ensure the safety of its diplomats and citizens in Malaysia, amid an escalating row over the murder of the North Korean leader's estranged half brother, Kim Jong-nam.
Key points:
- Prime Minister Najib said North Korea's ban disregarded international law
- Malaysian police have sealed off the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur
- Three North Korean nationals wanted in relation to Kim Jong-nam's murder are reportedly hiding in embassy, police said
The North's foreign ministry has notified the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang of the reason for the measure and said it had hoped the case would be swiftly and fairly resolved in order to develop bilateral ties with Malaysia, the North's KCNA news agency reported.
In response, Malaysia similarly banned all North Korean nationals from leaving Malaysia.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on North Korea to immediately release all its citizens in North Korea.
"This abhorrent act, effectively holding our citizens hostage, is in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms," President Najib said in a statement, adding he had summoned an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.
Mr Najib instructed the police "to prevent all North Korean citizens in Malaysia from leaving the country until we are assured of the safety and security of all Malaysians in North Korea".
Malaysian police also sealed off the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur to ascertain the number of officials inside, the Deputy Home Minister said.
"We are trying to physically identify all the embassy staff who are here," Nur Jazlan Mohamed told reporters outside the embassy.
He said staff would not be allowed to leave the embassy "until we are satisfied of their numbers and where they are".
This move came as two North Koreans wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of Kim were reportedly hiding in the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
"How much longer do they want to hide in the embassy... it is a matter of time before they come out," police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said.
Mr Khalid said North Korean authorities were not cooperating with the investigations.
Kim was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13 by assassins using VX nerve agent, classified by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction.
Reuters
Topics: world-politics, crime, malaysia, korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of, asia
First posted