Mum’s the word for people going in and out of embassy
KUALA LUMPUR: Several individuals were seen entering the North Korean Embassy in Bukit Damansara but no one is telling why.
The small groups of individuals seen yesterday were spotted wearing pins with images resembling Kim Jongun or his grandfather, Kim Ilsung, who are the current and past leaders of North Korea.
Journalists, particularly those from South Korea, sprung into action as soon as they spotted the groups and tried to ask questions. But the individuals were tightlipped. When they exited the embassy about 90 minutes later, they were again hounded by journalists. They maintained a stoic silence.
Meanwhile, the embassy building has recently become quite an attraction to people in and around the affluent Bukit Damansara neighbourhood ever since news of the assassination of Jongun’s estranged halfbrother broke out last week.
Drivers would slow down and start taking photos with their mobile phones, including snapping pictures of the lines of journalists staking out daily at the fivefoot way.
Some passersby also shouted well wishes to pressmen from their vehicles.
A South Korean family, who said they were on holiday in Malaysia, made a brief stop at the embassy early yesterday morning to take pictures but left as soon as journalists started asking questions.
Later in the evening, a local man in his 40s rang the embassy’s bell and was surrounded by journalists before he could get away.
“I just wanted to see if they’d open the gate for you,” he said.
The man, who did not want to be identified, said he has been living in Bukit Damansara since he was a boy.
He described the embassy and its employees as “quiet”.