Malaysia softens tone to N Korea
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak struck a softer tone with North Korea yesterday, a day after accusing it of assassinating the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong Un and treating Malaysians as "hostages."
Malaysian police have identified eight North Koreans wanted for questioning in connection with the killing of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb 13, three of them hiding in the North Korean embassy.
In a bid to "ensure the safety" of its diplomats and citizens in Malaysia, North Korea retaliated on Tuesday by banning Malaysians from leaving the country until the case was "properly solved."
Najib denounced that move as an "abhorrent act" and ordered a reciprocal ban.
"What we are facing now is the result of their action in assassinating their own citizen in Malaysia, on Malaysian soil, using a strictly banned chemical weapon," Najib told state media agency Bernama on Tuesday.
In Malaysia's Borneo state of Sarawak, 37 North Koreans were detained on Tuesday at a construction site for overstaying their visas. They were among 176 North Koreans working in Sarawak. Those who overstayed would be given 30-day extensions, however, an immigration source said.
But faced with the priority of securing the release of the 11 Malaysians stuck in North Korea, Najib sounded more conciliatory in parliament yesterday, saying there were no plans to cut diplomatic ties.
"We are a country that's friendly to them," Najib said, after reassuring MPs the three embassy staff, six family members, and two other Malaysians in North Korea were safe.
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