Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today refuted a news agency report from Japan claiming that Malaysia has stopped issuing work permits to North Korean nationals.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said no such directive had been issued on the matter.

"The news report (on the work permit) is false," he told reporters at an Aidilfitri open house held at his official residence, Sri Satria, here.

Last Thursday, Japan's Kyodo News reported that Malaysia had stopped issuing work permits to North Koreans following the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the elder half-brother of Korean dictator Kim Jong-un in this country.

Jong-nam was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2), allegedly by two foreign women using the toxic VX nerve agent while he was waiting for a flight to Macau on Feb 13.

-- BERNAMA