A North Korean embassy staff asks police if they
are allowed to leave as police puts a cordon at North Korean embassy in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. The bitter diplomatic
dispute between North Korea and Malaysia over the poisoning death of
leader Kim Jong-un's estranged half-brother escalated dramatically
Tuesday, with Pyongyang saying it had banned Malaysians from leaving
North Korea. That was followed quickly by Malaysia saying North Korean
embassy staff were barred from leaving its country. Malaysia had already
expelled the North Korean ambassador on Monday. (Associated
Press/Vincent Thian)
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The bitter diplomatic dispute between North Korea and Malaysia over
the poisoning death of leader Kim Jong-un's estranged half-brother
escalated dramatically Tuesday, with Pyongyang saying it had banned
Malaysians from leaving North Korea.
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That was followed quickly by Malaysia saying North Korean embassy
staff were barred from leaving its country. Malaysia had already
expelled the North Korean ambassador on Monday.
The North's Foreign Ministry told the Malaysian Embassy in Pyongyang
that it would temporarily ban the exit of Malaysian citizens now in the
North, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
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It said the exit ban will be valid "until the safety of the diplomats
and citizens of [North Korea] in Malaysia’s fully guaranteed through
the fair settlement of the case that occurred in Malaysia."
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Malaysia is pursuing several North Korean suspects allegedly involved
in the killing, including a diplomat at the North's Embassy in Kuala
Lumpur. Malaysia has not accused the North of being behind the killing
of Kim Jong-nam at Kuala Lumpur's airport three weeks ago, but South
Korean has.
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Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Marican told reporters at
parliament that there are 11 Malaysians in North Korea: Three working at
the Malaysian Embassy, two United Nations workers and six family
members.
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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.
It also said that the Malaysian ambassador would be expelled, although he has already been recalled to Malaysia.
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Source: TheJakartaPost
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Source: TheJakartaPost
