North Korea bans Malaysians from leaving country

Telegraph - North Korea said on Tuesday it had temporarily banned Malaysians from leaving the country to ensure the safety of its diplomats and citizens in Malaysia amid an escalating row over the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother.

کد خبر: ۶۷۴۵۷۷

تاریخ: ۱۷ اسفند ۱۳۹۵ - ۰۹:۳۸

The North's foreign ministry 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.

The North said Malaysian diplomats and citizens "may work and live normally under the same conditions and circumstances as before" during the period of the temporary exit ban.

Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Marican told reporters at parliament that there were 11 Malaysians in North Korea: Three working at the Malaysian Embassy, two United Nations workers and six family members.

Najib Razak, Malaysia' prime minister, condemned the North's actions.

"This abhorrent act, effectively holding our citizens hostage, is in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms," he he said.

Warning that he would "not hesitate to take all measures necessary" to protect his citizens, Mr Razak said he had summoned an emergency meeting  of the National Security Council and had barred all North Koreans from leaving Malaysia.

The diplomatic crisis was sparked by the fatal poisoning of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader, in Kuala Lumpur airport last month.

In an attack many believe was orchestrated by North Korea, Mr Kim died less than 20 minutes after two women wiped VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13, authorities say. The women, one from Vietnam and one from Indonesia, have been charged with murder.

Malaysia's police chief said on Tuesday two North Koreans wanted for questioning in connection with the murder were 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 told reporters at a press conference.

Mr Khalid said North Korean authorities were not cooperating with the investigations and Pyongyang has denied any role in the killing, accusing Malaysia of conspiring with its enemies.

Malaysia's prime minister said on Monday that it was protecting its "sovereignty and dignity" by expelling the North Korean ambassador, Kang Chol.

Just hours after the North Korean ambassador headed to the airport to leave Malaysia, North Korea responded in kind, announcing that it was ordering Malaysia's envoy out of Pyongyang. The move was symbolic as Malaysia had already recalled its diplomat shortly after the killing.