Malaysia to open talks with N. Korea in ‘next few days’

Kuala Lumpur, March 11: Malaysia hopes to open negotiations with North Korea in the “next few days” to secure the release of its citizens trapped in Pyongyang following a row over the murder of Kim Jong-Nam, the foreign minister said on Saturday.

The killing of the halfbrother of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un last month in Kuala Lumpur International Airport with VX nerve agent triggered a bitter standoff between the previously friendly Asian nations, which have expelled each other’s ambassador and refused to let their citizens leave.

Three Malaysian embassy staff and six family members are stranded in Pyongyang after North Korea barred Malaysians from leaving the country on on Tuesday, prompting a titfor-tat move by Kuala Lumpur.

“Talks are set to begin... in next few days” with Pyongyang, foreign minister Anifah Aman said.

“They want to start talking but ... before we start talking we have to establish a lot of factors first,” he said, without offering further details.

Mr Anifah held the briefing after meet with relatives of the stranded Malaysians and said he had spoken to embassy staff in Pyongyang who appeared to be safe.

“They said they are quite

They want to start talking but... before we start talking we have to establish a lot of factors

Anifah Aman, S. Korean foreign minister

free to move around and this is very encouraging.”

North Korea has never confirmed the identity of the dead man, but has denounced the Malaysian investigation as an attempt to smear the secretive regime, insisting that he most likely died of a heart attack.

Pyongyang has also demanded the return of his body but Malaysian authorities have refused to release it without a DNA sample from next-of-kin.

Mr Anifah said the matter would be discussed with Pyongyang when talks begin, adding, “we don’t want to keep the body more than what is necessary”.

Malaysian police are seeking seven North Korean suspects.