Malaysia to cancel visa-free entry for North Koreans

Malaysia will cancel visa-free entry for North Koreans entering the country from Mar 6, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday (Mar 2) citing the deputy prime minister. North Koreans will be required to obtain a visa before entering Malaysia for national security reasons, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted as saying on Bernama. The move comes two weeks after Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was killed at the Kuala Lumpur airport with a toxic nerve agent. South Korea and U.S. say he was assassinated by agents of the North Korean regime.
Before the murder of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb 13, the two countries enjoyed relatively warm ties, with some bilateral trade and citizens of both nations entitled to travel to the other under a unique reciprocal visa-free deal. The cancellation comes after members of the powerful ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation, held a protest outside the North Korean embassy last week and demanded Malaysia end the free visa ruling.