Malaysia and DPRK impose exit bans on citizens

World Today

The Democratic People’s Republican of Korea has banned Malaysian citizens, including diplomats, from leaving the country. 

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called the DPRK’s move an abhorrent act that amounted to holding the Malaysians hostage in total disregard of international law and diplomatic norms.

And the Malaysian government quickly ordered a reciprocal exit ban for DPRK citizens. This is the latest escalation in the diplomatic row comes after both country’s declared each others’ ambassadors “persona non grata”.

CGTN Rian Maelzer reports.
Follow Rian Maelzer on Twitter @rdamael

Malaysian police moved at lunchtime Tuesday to bar anyone from leaving the DPRK embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The country is retaliating against the DPRK’s move to prevent any Malaysians, including diplomats, from leaving that country.

Malaysia responded by barring all DPRK citizens from leaving as well.

Reports indicate that staff at the Malaysian Embassy in Pyongyang took emergency measures to destroy all documents, lowered the flags and hurriedly exited the embassy. But they weren’t able to get out before the DPRK banned them from leaving.

Malaysia’s ministry of foreign affairs said that there are 11 Malaysians in the DPRK, three embassy staff and their family members, and two more working for the U.N. food program.

Malaysia is seeking to question three DPRK citizens still in the country in connection with the killing of Kim Jong-Nam, including the embassy’s second secretary.