Malaysians barred from visiting North Korea

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are barred from travelling to North Korea until further notice.

Wisma Putra said the decision was made due to rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula and developments related to Pyongyang’s missile tests.

“The ban will be reviewed once the situation returns to normal,” it said in a statement yesterday.

For further information, contact Wisma Putra at 03-8000 8000 (during office hours) or 03-8887 4570 (after office hours).

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said the body agreed with the ban.

Tan said not many Malaysians would be affected by the decision since dealings between both countries were minimal.

“Malaysians travelling overseas for holidays are not affected as few take unnecessary risks by venturing into hotspots.

“Also, it is the duty of all travel agents to exercise due care to place the safety of travellers above all else,” Tan said.

Earlier this month, North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile tests dominated the agenda at the United Nations General Assembly.

US President Donald Trump, in his maiden address at the UN, threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea if it endangered the United States or its allies.

Fears of a clash between the United States and North Korea heightened after US bombers flew off the coast of North Korea on Saturday.