KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 7 – The Prime Minister has called for North Korea to immediately release all Malaysian citizens after Pyongyang banned them from leaving the country. In a statement published on Tuesday, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he condemned in the strongest terms possible, North Korea’s decision to prevent Malaysian citizens from leaving the country, and has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.
“This abhorrent act, effectively holding our citizens hostage, is in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms. As a peace-loving nation, Malaysia is committed to maintaining friendly relations with all countries. However, protecting our citizens is my first priority, and we will not hesitate to take all measures necessary when they are threatened,” said Najib.
“I have also instructed the Inspector-General of 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. Our hope is for a swift resolution. I call upon the North Korean leadership to immediately allow our citizens to leave to avoid any further escalation,” he said.
The North’s foreign ministry notified the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang of the reason for the ban 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.
Citing the foreign ministry told the official Korea Central News Agency said all Malaysian nationals in the DPRK will be temporarily prohibited from leaving the country until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved. Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Marican told reporters that there were 11 Malaysians in North Korea including three embassy workers, two U.N. staff and six family members.
Tuesday’s travel bans are the latest ratcheting of diplomatic tensions in the wake of the killing of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of the North Korean leader, at Kuala Lumpur’s airport on Feb. 13. Speaking hours after Pyongyang’s ban was announced by North Korean state media, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told AP that North Korea had “manipulated what we call a murder case.”
According to Agence France-Presse, the official Korea Central News Agency said Tuesday morning: “All Malaysian nationals in the DPRK will be temporarily prohibited from leaving the country until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved.” On Monday, Pyongyang expelled the Malaysian ambassador from the country, reciprocating Malaysia’s order for the North Korean envoy there to leave within 48 hours.
