US embassy pleased Malaysians allowed to return home from North Korea

Malaysia's counsellor to North Korea Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain speaking during a press conference at KLIA early Friday. - AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: The US embassy here is pleased that the nine Malaysians who were barred from leaving North Korea have been allowed to return home.  

The nine were the remaining Malaysian diplomatic corps personnel in North Korea and their families.  

They left Pyongyang on a Royal Malaysian Air Force jet at 7.45pm (Malaysian time) Thursday and arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 5.03am Friday.

The nine Malaysians were counsellor Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, his wife Iza Karmila Ramli and their children Annur Zulaikha, Aynur Zhafirah and Ayscha Zinnirah, personal assistant to the ambassador Noor Saaidah Jamaludin, her husband Mohd Radzuan Othman and eight-month old baby Mohamad Radhiy, and administrative assistant Nirmala Malar Kodi Singaram.  

In a statement Friday, the US embassy described the barred departure of the Malaysians as a grave and unacceptable breach of the Vienna Convention.  

Tensions between Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang arose following the murder of Kim Jong-nam, 46, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) here on Feb 13.  

On March 7, Pyongyang barred Malaysians in North Korea from leaving the country and Malaysia responded with a similar bar the same day, stopping North Koreans from leaving the country.  

In its statement, the US embassy said it supports Malaysia's intent to continue investigation into serious crimes committed on its territory.  

It added that all possible measures must be taken to bring those responsible for the crime to justice. - Bernama