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Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, on Tuesday, called on Pyongyang to “immediately allow our citizens to leave” North Korea after authorities there said all Malaysian citizens would be barred from leaving the country.
Pyongyang is “effectively holding our citizens hostage … in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms,” Najib said in a statement.
In response to Pyongyang’s move, Najib ordered Malaysian 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.”
Najib also called for an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.
Earlier, local news portal Astro Awani reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs had ordered that only North Korean embassy officials were banned from leaving Malaysia.
Diplomatic relations between Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang have rapidly deteriorated following the Feb. 13 killing of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim died at Kuala Lumpur’s international airport after two women allegedly rubbed VX nerve agent on his face.
Malaysian officials have sought information from North Korea amid allegations that the murder was politically motivated.
On Monday, North Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia was forced to leave the country, and the Malaysian ambassador to North Korea was also ordered to leave Pyongyang.
Eleven Malaysians are believed to currently be in North Korea, according to Malaysian news agency Bernama. (NAN)
