Malaysia: The UN's World Food Programme said two of its Malaysian staff left North Korea on Thursday after Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang banned each other's citizens from leaving their countries in a row over the murder of Kim Jong-Nam.
"The staff members are international civil servants and not representatives of their national government. They work on WFP's programmes in DPR Korea," the UN agency said in a statement, adding that they had arrived in Beijing.
North Korea and Malaysia Tuesday banned each other's citizens from leaving their countries, with Kuala Lumpur saying its nationals were effectively being held "hostage".
Malaysia's Prime Minister, Najib Razak posted on Facebook in both Malay and English that he had been briefed about the release.
In a separate statement, Najib again ruled out severing ties with North Korea, with whom he said Kuala Lumpur must negotiate to secure its citizens' release, but reaffirmed that Malaysia would not allow North Koreans to leave the country. "We will not relent from our firm approach," he said.
A senior government official told AFP that Malaysia was not responsible for securing the release of the two UN staff. "They carry UN laissez-passer documents," he said.
The Malaysian foreign ministry said 11 of its citizens were currently in North Korea - three embassy staff, six family members and two who work for the UN's World Food Programme.
"The staff members are international civil servants and not representatives of their national government. They work on WFP's programmes in DPR Korea," the UN agency said in a statement, adding that they had arrived in Beijing.
North Korea and Malaysia Tuesday banned each other's citizens from leaving their countries, with Kuala Lumpur saying its nationals were effectively being held "hostage".
Malaysia's Prime Minister, Najib Razak posted on Facebook in both Malay and English that he had been briefed about the release.
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In a separate statement, Najib again ruled out severing ties with North Korea, with whom he said Kuala Lumpur must negotiate to secure its citizens' release, but reaffirmed that Malaysia would not allow North Koreans to leave the country. "We will not relent from our firm approach," he said.
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A senior government official told AFP that Malaysia was not responsible for securing the release of the two UN staff. "They carry UN laissez-passer documents," he said.
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The Malaysian foreign ministry said 11 of its citizens were currently in North Korea - three embassy staff, six family members and two who work for the UN's World Food Programme.
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