Malaysian UN workers leave North Korea

KUALA LUMPUR: The UN's World Food Programme said two of its Malaysian staff left North Korea Thursday after Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang banned each other's citizens from leaving their countries in a row over the murder of Kim Jong-Nam, reports AFP.
"The staff members are international civil servants and not representatives of their national government. They work on WFP's programmes in DPR Korea," the UN agency said in a statement, adding that they had arrived in Beijing.
North Korea and Malaysia Tuesday banned each other's citizens from leaving their countries, with Kuala Lumpur saying its nationals were effectively being held "hostage".
The countries had unusually strong links for years, but ties have rapidly deteriorated since two women wiped a deadly chemical on Kim's face in Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13.
Malaysia's prime minister Najib Razak posted on Facebook in both Malay and English that he had been briefed about the release.
"Stella Lim and Nyanaprakash Muniandy have both safely arrived in Beijing," he said.
In a separate statement, Najib again ruled out severing ties with North Korea, with whom he said Kuala Lumpur must negotiate to secure its citizens' release, but reaffirmed that Malaysia would not allow North Koreans to leave the country.
"We will not relent from our firm approach," he said.

Malaysian UN workers leave North Korea

KUALA LUMPUR: The UNs World Food Programme said two of its Malaysian staff left North Korea Thursday after Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang banned each others citizens from leaving their countries in a row over the murder of Kim Jong-Nam, reports AFP. The staff members are international civil servants and not representatives of their national government. They work on WFPs programmes in DPR Korea, the UN agency said in a statement, adding that they had arrived in Beijing. North Korea and Malaysia Tuesday banned each others citizens from leaving their countries, with Kuala Lumpur saying its nationals were effectively being held hostage. The countries had unusually strong links for years, but ties have rapidly deteriorated since two women wiped a deadly chemical on Kims face in Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13. Malaysias prime minister Najib Razak posted on Facebook in both Malay and English that he had been briefed about the release. Stella Lim and Nyanaprakash Muniandy have both safely arrived in Beijing, he said. In a separate statement, Najib again ruled out severing ties with North Korea, with whom he said Kuala Lumpur must negotiate to secure its citizens release, but reaffirmed that Malaysia would not allow North Koreans to leave the country. We will not relent from our firm approach, he said.