Malaysia''s pragmatic approach enabled the diplomatic crisis between Kuala Lumpur-Pyongyang recently to be resolved without the need for involvement of third parties, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
He said Malaysia opted to undertake direct negotiations because it was confident that the crisis could be resolved amicably.
"When the crisis erupted, we did not see the need to use third parties, but instead opted for direct negotiations. However, I wish to inform, because of our pragmatic attitude, many countries including from ASEAN helped in the matter.
"Among the foreign missions which helped Malaysian citizens trapped in North Korea were those of Indonesia, Pakistan and the European Union (EU). This is the advantage when we are pragmatic in diplomatic relations, we placed importance on ensuring the safety of Malaysians (in North Korea) and that they are brought home safely," he told the Dewan Negara on Tuesday.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Senator Tan Sri S. Nallakarupan who wanted to know why Malaysia did not use a middleman in its negotiations with North Korea to bring home nine Malaysians who were barred from leaving that country at the height of the diplomatic crisis.
The crisis erupted following the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 on Feb 13.
Jong-nam was waiting to board a flight to Macau when suddenly two women approached him and wiped his face with a liquid later identified as the lethal nerve agent VX.
He died while being brought to the Putrajaya Hospital, The two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, have since been charged with his murder.
The tensions saw both countries expelling each other''s ambassador and preventing the citizens from the other country from leaving.
However, all ended well with all the nine Malaysians in Pyongyang safely brought home on March 31. Jong-nam''s body was also repatriated to North Korea the same day, accompanied by three North Korean nationals who had been holed up at the North Korean embassy here.
To Nallakarupan''s original question as why Malaysia did not break off diplomatic relations with North Korea, Reezal Merican said the the government decided to continue diplomatic ties with Pyongyang in view of the longstanding relations which have lasted over four decades.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Apr 18 2017
![Malaysia's pragmatic approach enabled Jong-nam issue to be settled without third party involvement Malaysia's pragmatic approach enabled Jong-nam issue to be settled without third party involvement](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-08/81440325801_REEZAL.jpg)
He said Malaysia opted to undertake direct negotiations because it was confident that the crisis could be resolved amicably. - FILEpic
![Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51712121864_TBADLYZAHARIjp.jpg)
Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk
Perkara itu dimaklumkan pihak Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd iaitu syarikat yang dipertanggungjawabkan dalam kontrak perolehan perkhidmatan sewaan helikopter berkenaan.
![Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas
Polis sedang berusaha mengesan seorang remaja lelaki yang dilaporkan hilang oleh keluarganya di Kuala Pilah sejak enam hari lepas.
[TERKINI] Sidang media khas FAM
FAM adakan satu sidang media khas petang nanti, difahamkan berkaitan rombakan. Kepimpinan tertinggi FAM atau barisan kejurulatihan skuad Harimau Malaya?
![Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721113188_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh
Donald Trump menghadiri Konvensyen Kebangsaan Republikan pada malam Isnin, penampilan umum pertamanya sejak terselamat daripada cubaan bunuh.
![Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71715148599_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat
Wisma Putra melalui Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Muscat, Oman sedang giat menyelaras usaha dengan pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.
![Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112073_PangonHarimauMal.jpg)
Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya
Kim Pan-gon memiliki rekod yang cukup baik bersama Malaysia, menjadi pengendali Harimau Malaya paling banyak mendapatkan keputusan yang positif sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
![Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112865_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa
Kementerian Komunikasi hari ini mengumumkan Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa pada harga tidak melebihi RM30.
![Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719647184_LionelMessi.jpg)
Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan
Kapten Argentina, Lionel Messi berharap agar beliau cepat pulih daripada kecederaan buku lali yang dialaminya perlawanan akhir Copa America.
![MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721105894_AhmadZahidHamidi.jpg)
MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid
MARA diminta untuk terus meneroka potensi antarabangsa dalam industri halal yang mempunyai prospek besar menerusi program Gate to Global (GTG).
Saya akan rindu bau durian - Kim Pan-gon
Menurut Kim Pan-gon, beliau akan tetap bangga dengan pasukan bola sepak Malaysia walaupun dimana beliau berada.
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
![Bekas ADUN Nangka angkat sumpah Ahli Dewan Negara Bekas ADUN Nangka angkat sumpah Ahli Dewan Negara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721030816_tbAwangBemee.jpg)
Bekas ADUN Nangka angkat sumpah Ahli Dewan Negara
Bekas ADUN Nangka, Sarawak Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah mengangkat sumpah jawatan sebagai Ahli Dewan Negara.
![Pemimpin sayap kiri Perancis gesa Macron panggil NFP bentuk kerajaan Pemimpin sayap kiri Perancis gesa Macron panggil NFP bentuk kerajaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720405644_JeanLucMelenchon.jpg)
Pemimpin sayap kiri Perancis gesa Macron panggil NFP bentuk kerajaan
Melenchon menggesa Perdana Menteri untuk meletakkan jawatan dan Macron harus memanggil NFP untuk membentuk kerajaan baharu.
![Syed Husin insan amat rapat, sentiasa jadi rujukan - Anwar Syed Husin insan amat rapat, sentiasa jadi rujukan - Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719664342_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Syed Husin insan amat rapat, sentiasa jadi rujukan - Anwar
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyifatkan Allahyarham Dr Syed Husin Ali sebagai seorang sahabat, pemikir, dan guru beliau.
![Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara baharu adalah orang Sarawak - Abang Johari Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara baharu adalah orang Sarawak - Abang Johari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51717772958_AbangJohariTunOpe.jpg)
Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara baharu adalah orang Sarawak - Abang Johari
Premier Sarawak Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg memberi bayangan bahawa Yang di-Pertua Dewan Negara yang baharu kelak, adalah orang Sarawak.
![Dua Ahli Dewan Negara angkat sumpah Senator hari ini Dua Ahli Dewan Negara angkat sumpah Senator hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71715856399_DatukNelsonWAnga.jpg)
Dua Ahli Dewan Negara angkat sumpah Senator hari ini
Dua Ahli Dewan Negara hari ini mengangkat sumpah jawatan di hadapan Timbalan Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara Senator Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
![Belum bincang pengganti Speaker Dewan Negara - Fadillah Belum bincang pengganti Speaker Dewan Negara - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81712038156_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Belum bincang pengganti Speaker Dewan Negara - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata, pelantikan ke jawatan itu terletak di bawah budi bicara Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
![Belum bincang dengan PM mengenai pengganti Mutang - Abang Jo Belum bincang dengan PM mengenai pengganti Mutang - Abang Jo](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/41708497684_TBAbangJohari.jpg)
Belum bincang dengan PM mengenai pengganti Mutang - Abang Jo
Abang Johari berkata perbincangan mengenai jawatan Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara belum dibincangkan dengan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
![Sidang Dewan Negara labuh tirai, 17 rang undang-undang diluluskan Sidang Dewan Negara labuh tirai, 17 rang undang-undang diluluskan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51712240478_MutangTagal.jpg)
Sidang Dewan Negara labuh tirai, 17 rang undang-undang diluluskan
Mesyuarat Pertama Penggal Ketiga Parlimen Ke-15, Majlis Dewan Negara melabuhkan tirai hari ini setelah bersidang selama tiga minggu sejak 18 Mac lepas.
![Dewan Negara lulus dua RUU di bawah PETRA hari ini Dewan Negara lulus dua RUU di bawah PETRA hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71710741021_AkmalNasrullah.jpg)
Dewan Negara lulus dua RUU di bawah PETRA hari ini
Kedua-dua RUU itu diluluskan dengan lebih suara bersetuju, selepas bacaan kali ketiga oleh Timbalan Menteri Peralihan Tenaga dan Transformasi Air Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
![Aidilfitri: Kerajaan tambah 60 penerbangan ke Kota Bharu Aidilfitri: Kerajaan tambah 60 penerbangan ke Kota Bharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61712221488_TBDATUKHASBIHABI.jpg)
Aidilfitri: Kerajaan tambah 60 penerbangan ke Kota Bharu
Kerajaan telah meluluskan 60 penerbangan tambahan ke Kota Bharu, Kelantan melibatkan 15,962 tempat duduk sempena musim perayaan Aidilfitri ini.