NK, Malaysia game due in Pyongyang

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — An Asian Cup qualifier between North Korea and Malaysia will be played in Pyongyang, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Monday, despite strained ties over an assassination in Kuala Lumpur.

The killing of Kim Jong-nam — the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — in February sparked a diplomatic row which saw both countries banning each other’s citizens from leaving and withdrawing their ambassadors.

South Korea accuses the North of masterminding the killing and Malaysian police at the time named several North Korean suspects.

The AFC said the match would take place in the North Korean capital on June 8 after Malaysian football officials confirmed there were no longer any travel restrictions.

Malaysia had originally been due to play the match in Pyongyang on March 28 as a lead-up to the 2019 tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

But Malaysian officials at the time banned the team f rom playing in Pyongyang, citing security fears, and the AFC decided to postpone the tie due to “escalating diplomatic tension.”