Don't visit North Korea, Nazri tells Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has discouraged Malaysians from visiting North Korea, citing security reasons. 

The Culture and Tourism Minister described North Korea as a "rogue" state which is highly unpredictable. 

"I don't encourage Malaysians to visit North Korea. 

"You cannot predict what they will do," he said after attending the launch of the 15th National Craft Day here Thursday.  

He agreed with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman that North Korea was under the delusion that Malaysia was in cahoots with a foreign power in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam on Feb 13. 

North Korea had also demanded the return of Jong-nam's body while blaming Malaysia for his death. 

"They are a rogue state. This is not North Korea, this is Malaysia. We have our laws," he said. 

On calls to revoke free visas for North Koreans visiting Malaysia, Mohamed Nazri said the move was not necessary. 

"There is no need to revoke the visa as North Koreans aren't allowed to travel out of their country in the first place," he said. He added that only North Korean officials travelled here. 

Jong-nam, 45, the estranged half-brother of North Korea leader Kim Jong-un, was assassinated on Feb 13 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 by two women who poisoned him. 

Four people have so far been arrested in relation to the case. They are Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28; Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25; North Korean Ri Jong-chol, 47, and Siti Aisyah’s boyfriend, Muhammad Farid Jalaluddin, a Malaysian.   

The remand for Doan and Siti Aisyah was extended for a further seven days while the boyfriend would be released on police bail.  

The four North Koreans who were involved in the murder have returned to Pyongyang.  

Malaysian police have requested the North Korean government hand them over.