Malaysians Stranded In North Korea Return Home

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Nine Malaysians who were prevented from leaving North Korea have arrived home, after the two countries 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.

Two North Koreans wanted for questioning are believed to have been allowed to leave Malaysia.

Malaysia has also released Mr Kim's body to Pyongyang. North Korea is widely suspected to have orchestrated Mr Kim's murder. Mr Kim was the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The late Kim Jong-il's eldest son was passed over for the leadership and was living outside North Korea at the time of his death.


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.