All nine Malaysians in North Korea are safe and free to move about within that country, said Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

He said they were reachable and that the Malaysian government had been in touch with them.

"They (the Malaysians in North Korea) are not in any state of fear. Do not worry, there is no reason to be afraid, what is important is that they are in a very safe situation," he said to reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Reezal Merican was asked on the latest developments pertaining to the nine Malaysians remaining in Pyongyang and unable to leave that country under a temporary ban imposed by North Korea.

Last Tuesday, North Korea barred Malaysians from leaving the country, which led to Malaysia reciprocating and disallowing North Korean citizens in Malaysia from leaving the country.

- Bernama