KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia banned North Koreans from leaving the country with immediate effect on Tuesday.
The move comes in response to a similar measure taken by Pyongyang barring Malaysians in North Korea from leaving, as the bilateral relationship deteriorates.
Kuala Lumpur had "no intention" of taking such measures but they "[have] to be taken after North Korea departed from diplomatic ethics," Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysia's deputy prime minister told reporters.
North Korea's state news agency reported earlier in the morning that the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang has been informed of a decision to temporarily halt the exit of Malaysians "until the safety of the diplomats and citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Malaysia are fully guaranteed through the fair settlement of the case that occurred in Malaysia."
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak described the action of preventing Malaysian citizens from leaving the country as an "abhorrent act" that was tantamount to holding them hostage. "I call upon the North Korean leadership to immediately allow our citizens to leave to avoid any further escalation," he said in a statement.
The tit-for-tat moves, which are unprecedented according to a diplomatic source, came after Malaysia expelled North Korean ambassador Kang Chol on Monday. The envoy had condemned Kuala Lumpur's investigation into the death of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
North Korea has rejected the Malaysian autopsy conducted on Kim, who police later disclosed was killed by VX, a nerve agent banned globally as a weapon of mass destruction.
Zahid disagreed, warning North Korea "not to belittle" Kuala Lumpur as investigations into the murder have been carried out professionally.
In an op-ed piece published in a local daily on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman hinted at cutting ties with North Korea, stating that Malaysia had little to lose since bilateral trade is negligible.
"... rest assured that the ministry will not shirk its duty to take that final step in a diplomatic break-up," read the piece.
Meanwhile, Malaysian police said they believe three North Korean men wanted in connection with the Feb.13 murder are hiding in the embassy. An arrest warrant has been issued for Kim Uk Il, a member of staff at North Korean carrier Air Koryo. Hyon Kwang Song, the second secretary at the embassy -- who has diplomatic immunity -- has been requested by the police to assist with their probe.
Malaysian state news agency Bernama said there are eleven Malaysians living in Pyongyang.
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