Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
Did you know that Malaysia is the only country in South East Asia that is banned from visiting North Korea? Here’s why:
After closing itself off from the world for five years, North Korea is finally ready to take in visitors again, according to tourism agency Koryo Tours.
The Beijing-based agency recently published the news that Samjiyon in North Korea will be open to tourists this coming December.
Unfortunately, Malaysians shouldn’t be waiting around for an invitation, because we are on North Korea’s ban list alongside South Korea.
Wait, why are Malaysians banned from visiting North Korea?
So according to a statement released by our Foreign Affairs Ministry, Malaysia has been on the reclusive country’s no-entry list for years now, due to severed diplomatic ties between both countries.
Back in 2017, tensions arose between our countries following the assassination of Kim Jong-un’s estranged half brother, Kim Jong-nam.
Although the perpetrators weren’t Malaysian, as it occurred on Malaysian soil, unfortunately the relationship between both countries soured. But what really happened that day?
The assassination of Kim Jong-Nam in 2017.
In 2017, Kim Jong-nam was arriving in KLIA, Malaysia when he collapsed on the floor of the airport. Within 20 minutes, he was pronounced dead. Based on autopsy reports, the cause of death was direct exposure to the nerve agent “VX”.
Airport security footage later revealed two different women during two different points in time coming in physical contact with Jong-nam. The first woman had smeared an oily substance on his face, while the second woman covered his eyes with her hands, then touched his mouth before running away.
According to US news reports, the attack had been carried out by North Korea agents after Jong-nam’s very public fall out with his family.
Unfortunately, the people who would find themselves in hot water were not the agents, but former Indonesian and Vietnamese escorts, Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, the two women who came in contact with Kim Jong-nam.
The women were arrested and put on trial for Jong-nam’s murder. During the trial, they claimed they thought they were participating in a Japanese YouTube show, and that the act of touching and smearing Jong-nam’s face with the nerve agent was part of a prank.
But the assassination was only strike one; North Korea didn’t sever ties because of one incident. The straw that broke the camel’s back occurred 4 years later in 2021.
In 2021, Malaysia extradited a North Korean businessman to the US for money laundering.
The assassination was only strike one; strike two was when the Malaysian Federal Court endorsed the extradition of Mun Chol-myong, a North Korean businessman, to the United States to be tried for money laundering in 2021.
Mun, who is in his 50s, had lived in Malaysia for a decade and was arrested in May 2019 after U.S. authorities requested his extradition. Malaysia’s government approved the extradition, but Mun challenged the U.S. bid.
He said in his affidavit that he was the victim of a “politically motivated” extradition request aimed at pressuring North Korea over its missile program.
After this act, North Korea announced that it was severing diplomatic ties with Malaysia. The North Korean foreign ministry called the extradition a “nefarious act and unpardonably heavy crime” by Malaysian authorities, who had “offered our citizen as a sacrifice of the US hostile move in defiance of the acknowledged international laws.” In response, Malaysia closed its embassy in Pyongyang.
As of 2024, Malaysia is the only country in Southeast Asia that does not maintain diplomatic relations with North Korea and bans its people from travelling to the country.
So what does this mean for us Malaysians?
For regular Malaysians, the strained relationship between Malaysia and North Korea may seem trivial, but there are significant implications that extend beyond just being barred from visiting the reclusive nation.
By supporting U.S.-led sanctions, Malaysia aligns itself more closely with Western powers, which places us at odds with countries that view the U.S. presence in the region as problematic, such as China and Russia.
In terms of potential retaliatory actions from North Korea, an outright military conflict is unlikely, but Malaysia could face increased risks in other areas, such as cyberattacks. North Korea is known for its sophisticated cyber capabilities, and countries perceived as adversaries have been targets of North Korean cyber operations.
The broader geopolitical context of U.S.-North Korean relations means that Malaysia is now more deeply embedded in the tensions between these two nations. As the U.S. continues its efforts to contain North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, countries aligned with U.S. policies could be at risk of being caught in the crossfire of escalating tensions.
It’s up to our government to navigate these uneasy political waters with a conciliatory but firm stance.
What do you think about this story?
Submit your story to hello@inreallife.my and you may be featured on In Real Life Malaysia.
Read also: How I Got Laid Off Twice and How It Influenced My Personal Finances
How I Got Laid Off Twice & How It Influenced My Personal Finances
More from Viral News
Tun M. Mahathir Said “All The Signboards Are In Chinese” At Pavilion Bukit Jalil, But Is It True?
Tun M recently went viral for saying there was a lack of Malay signage in Pavilion Bukit Jalil, but it …
I’m A Palm Oil Plantation Owner And Here’s How I Retired At Age 45
Recently, an anonymous confession went viral in which a man shared how he has been “shaking leg” at home since …
Famous Malaysians Who Were Accused Of Serious Crimes But Walked Away With A Slap on the Wrist
With the recent spotlight on the Fashion Valet case, now’s a good time to remind everyone about 4 Malaysian public …
