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Malaysia, N Korea in Reciprocal Exit Bans

Malaysia, N Korea in Reciprocal Exit Bans
folder_openKoreas access_time7 years ago
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Local Editors

In a growing row over the killing of Kim Jong-nam, North Korea and Malaysia had banned each other's citizens from leaving their countries.

Malaysia, N Korea in Reciprocal Exit Bans

The extraordinary tit-for-tat actions come amid North Korean fury at Malaysia's ongoing investigation into his death at a Kuala Lumpur airport.

The North Korean leader's half-brother was killed with a potent nerve agent.

Malaysia had not directly blamed the North for this, but there is widespread suspicion Pyongyang was responsible.

North Korea fiercely denied any accusations of culpability and the row over the killing - and who has the right to claim Kim's body - had rapidly escalated over the past two weeks.

Both Malaysia and North Korea have already expelled each other's ambassadors.

The state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday that "all Malaysian nationals in the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] will be temporarily prohibited from leaving the country until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved".

It said this was to ensure the safety of it citizens and diplomats in Malaysia.

Malaysians in North Korea country would be able to carry on their lives as normal, it added.

Furiously, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said it was an "abhorrent act" which was "in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms".

Malaysians were effectively being held hostage in North Korea, he said in a statement.

"Protecting our citizens is my first priority, and we will not hesitate to take all measures necessary when they are threatened."

Initially, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad and Home Minister Zahid Hamidi had said that in response, North Korean embassy staff and officials would not be allowed to leave.

"We need to take similar steps as they have manipulated the murder," he was quoted as saying.

But Najib later said the ban would extend to all North Koreans.

Such actions are highly unusual. Under Article 13 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, "everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country".

Malaysia signed that declaration, but North Korea did not.
The ban also breaks the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which both countries had ratified.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

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