He said this was because the North Korean government was still providing room for discussion despite rising tensions that resulted in Malaysians being barred from leaving Pyongyang.
“The decision reached by the National Security Council (NSC) confirmed the statement I made in Jakarta yesterday, which is that we will prioritise the safety of our citizens in North Korea.”
According to Najib, who spoke to reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat today, the government had been informed that Malaysians in North Korea were allowed to go about their lives in the usual way.
“They are not locked up, and they can carry on with their daily routine. There is no immediate concern for their safety at the moment.
“But we are looking into what North Korea really wants. This is what we are trying to ascertain but at the same time, we will not allow North Koreans here from leaving the country.”
Najib said the move was necessary to allow room for negotiation.
When asked if Putrajaya had initiated direct negotiations with Pyongyang, the PM said he was not at liberty to reveal such information as the safety of Malaysians in North Korea was more important.
“We will see the development because I have asked for several things to be executed, but I can’t reveal them.
“This is a sensitive issue and we must prioritise the safety of Malaysian citizens. If there is negotiation, we can’t negotiate through the media.”
Najib also said the government was not deliberately sabotaging diplomatic ties between the two countries but since a crime had been committed here that involved the use of a chemical weapon, the Malaysian government was “duty bound to protect the interests of the nation”.
Ties between Malaysia and North Korea have soured since the murder of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in Sepang on Feb 13.
North Korea’s decision to stop Malaysians in its country from leaving came after the Malaysian government expelled their ambassador here, Kang Chol.
“This abhorrent act, effectively holding our citizens hostage, is in total disregard of all international laws and diplomatic norms,” Najib said yesterday in his strongest denunciation yet of Pyongyang.
North Korea and Malaysia established diplomatic ties in 1973, but it was not until the early part of the last decade that both countries had firmed the relationship with the opening of full-fledged diplomatic missions.