China hopes the crisis between Malaysia and North Korea crisis stemming from the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, would be resolved amicably.

"We wish Malaysia and North Korea could resolve the problem in a friendly manner,"China's Ambassador to Malaysia, Huang Huikang told reporters inn Sepang today.

Earlier, he presented the 'Chinese Ambassador's Scholarship' to 10 Malaysian students from the Xiamen University Malaysia campus in Kepala Batas, Penang, today.

However, Huang declined to elaborate further. 

Diplomatic ties between Malaysia and North Korea became strained following Jong-nam's murder at KLIA 2 on Feb 13. 

Jong-nam, who travelled with a passport bearing the name of Kim Chol, was waiting for his flight to Macau when two women suddenly wiped his face with a liquid, which was later identified as VX nerve agent.

Geopolitical expert Professor Dr Azmi Hassan said China is seen to be the best choice to be the mediator to resolve the crisis between the two countries as it had close ties with both nations.

Azmi said Beijing had a very strong influence over Pyongyang, and also trusted Kuala Lumpur, which made the superpower the "ideal" party to resolve the crisis.

- Bernama