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Kim Jong-nam: Malaysians held in North Korea return home | Kim Jong-nam: Malaysians held in North Korea return home |
(35 minutes later) | |
Nine Malaysians who were detained in North Korea have arrived home, after the two countries apparently struck a deal to end a diplomatic row. | Nine Malaysians who were detained in North Korea have arrived home, after the two countries apparently struck a deal to end a diplomatic row. |
The quarrel, over last month's killing of Kim Jong-nam in Kuala Lumpur, had resulted in both countries banning each other's citizens from leaving. | |
Malaysia has now allowed North Koreans to leave and released Mr Kim's body. | |
There is widespread suspicion that Pyongyang was responsible for orchestrating Mr Kim's murder. | |
The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says that Malaysia appears to have acceded to North Korea's wishes to get the Malaysians released. | |
It had earlier reacted angrily to the travel ban which was first imposed by Pyongyang, and denounced North Korea for holding Malaysian citizens hostage. | |
But on Friday morning Malaysia's foreign minister Anifah Aman, who received the returning Malaysians at the airport, told reporters: "There can be no substitute for diplomacy, for level-headedness in dealing with such situations, and this has served Malaysia well in this instance." | |
Mr Kim's body was released to North Korea and flown to Beijing early on Friday, where North Korean officials are expected to receive the body. | |
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said after challenging negotiations, that all North Koreans would be allowed to leave Malaysia - which likely includes suspects in the murder who are wanted by Malaysian police. | |
The nine Malaysian nationals were met by their relatives and a large media contingent at Kuala Lumpur airport early on Friday. | |
Those who have returned include the country's counsellor to North Korea, Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, embassy staff, and their families. | |
The counsellor said that when Pyongyang told them they could not leave North Korea, "we were very concerned especially since we had committed no wrong". | |
But he added they were "not particularly harassed" by North Korean authorities. "We were given the assurance that life could go on as normal," he said. | |
They were flown home in a business jet plane piloted by members of the Malaysian air force. |