Malaysia bans travel to North Korea

North Korea’s Ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol, center, is seen entering a car inside North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday, March 6, 2017. Malaysia said it expelled North Korea’s ambassador on Saturday for refusing to apologize for his strong accusations over Malaysia’s handling of the investigation into the killing of the North Korean leader’s half brother Kim Jong Nam.(AP Photo/Daniel Chan)

Malaysia said Thursday that its citizens are banned from traveling to North Korea until further notice because of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula as a result of Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear development.

Malaysia is one of a handful of countries that still has friendly diplomatic ties with North Korea, but relations were strained earlier this year after the murder of Kim Jong Un’s half brother at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The travel ban will be reviewed once the situation has returned to normal, the Malaysian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Malaysia’s soccer team is scheduled to face North Korea in an Asian Cup tie in Pyongyang Oct. 5, a match that been delayed twice because of security fears.

It was not immediately clear if the team would be allowed to travel to Pyongyang despite the ban. | via voanews

Popular

Impeachment Trial Day 6: Prosecution, defense argue over subpoena for VP Sara’s bank, tax records

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet and Brian Campued On Tuesday, July 14, the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte continued its cross-examination of National Bureau...

PBBM leaves for Singapore to boost trade, ASEAN ties

By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. left for Singapore on Tuesday for a two-day working visit aimed at...

Impeachment Trial Day 5: Prosecution’s witness Lotoc doubles down on the context behind VP Sara’s utterances

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet and Brian Campued On Monday, July 13, the House prosecution panel presented its second witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) BARMM...

PBBM doubles down on grassroots sports dev’t with NAS visit

By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday doubled down on his administration's push to build Philippine sports from...