CYBERJAYA: There are no changes so far regarding Malaysia’s trade status with North Korea, says Second International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.
He believed that the latest development involving Pyongyang would be discussed in the Cabinet meeting this Friday.
“This is a very new development. So far, things (no trade embargo) remain the same unless the Cabinet says otherwise," he told reporters at the inauguration of the T-Systems Malaysia innovation centre, T-hub, today.
Pyongyang today announced that it has barred Malaysians in North Korea from leaving the country.
In response, Malaysia announced that North Korean embassy staff in Malaysia would also be barred from leaving.
Ong said trade with North Korea was relatively small, with the country buying palm oil and raw materials from Malaysia.
Last week, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed was reported as saying that no trade embargo had been imposed on Malaysian companies keen on doing business with North Korean companies or in the country, despite the recent murder of Kim Jong-Nam at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.