“Don’t worry about us, we are all safe.”

This is the message from one of the Malaysians being held hostage in North Korea amid the escalating diplomatic standoff between the two countries following the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the exiled half-brother of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un on Feb 13.

Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, counsellor at the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang, said the Malaysians were in constant touch with Wisma Putra and with their families back home.

“We have already contacted them individually and are updating them from time to time, so they know of our status here. Right now, there is nothing to be worried about,” he said when contacted.

Read also: North Korean embassy in Malaysia sealed off, diplomatic staff barred from leaving country

His relatives back in Malaysia have expressed worry over the safety of the counsellor and his family.

He is believed to be in Pyongyang together with his wife and their three young children.

Mohd Nor Azrin said there were 11 Malaysians recorded to be in North Korea, comprising three embassy employees, six of their family members and two others working for the World Food Programme (WFP), a United Nations agency. All of them are now at the diplomatic compound of the Malay­sian embassy.

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2017-02-15 09:27:54

Photo Gallery

Half-brother of N Korean leader assassinated in Malaysia

Source:

AFP

Reuters

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Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican had earlier told reporters in Parliament that everyone at the embassy was asked to leave North Korea immediately but were stopped. However, there was no immediate threat to their safety.

It is understood that the other two Malaysian embassy staff members in Pyongyang now are the ambassador’s personal assistant, Noor Saaidah Jamaludin, and administrative assistant Nirmala Malar Kodi Singaram.

Read also: We will go by the book when determining future ties with N Korea: Najib

Asked on his advice to Malaysians worried about their fate, Mohd Nor Azrin urged Malaysians to get their latest information on the row from Wisma Putra instead of unverified sources.

“On our part, we will continue to do our work as we have been instructed and as public servants.”

Another Malaysian at the embassy, who declined to be named, said she was in Pyongyang with her husband and child.

“What I can say is that everything is normal at the embassy, and there is nothing which has caused us to be frightened or anything. It’s just like any other day,” she said.

Separately, a WFP spokesman confirmed that it has two Malaysian staff members in North Korea.

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2017-02-17 16:36:01

Photo Gallery

The Kim dynasty: North Korea’s secretive rulers

Source:

AFP

Reuters

Wikimedia Commons

YouTube screengrabs

Internet screengrabs

The Korea Herald/ANN

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“As UN staff members, they are international civil servants who do not represent any country.

“WFP takes the safety and security of its staff seriously and is closely monitoring the situation,” the spokesman said.

The UN headquarters also said it would look into the plight of the two WFP workers.

While those in the embassy say they are safe, a Malaysian woman in Pyongyang told Bernama that she was unaware about the temporary ban.

“Is that so? We did not receive any news about the ban,” was her immediate response when contacted.