KUALA LUMPUR - The Immigration Department has increased monitoring at the Malaysia-Thai border to ensure that no North Koreans leave through the neighbouring country.
Its director Mohd Amir Othman said the measure was taken on orders Tuesday from the Home Ministry.
The Padang Besar border crossing, the main route of entry and exit between Malaysia and Thailand, is open from 6am to 10pm while the other main crossing one at Wang Kelian is open from 7am to 7pm (Malaysia time).
In Alor Setar, the Kedah Immigration Department tightened its surveillance of the crossing into Thailand. Its director, Zuhair Jamaludin, said "steps have been taken" to tighten border controls.
Meanwhile, the Johor Immigration Department said that it will ensure that no North Korean citizens leave the country through the Johor-Singapore border.
North Korea on Tuesday banned Malaysians from leaving the country. Malaysia responded in kind, closing its borders to North Koreans who wanted to leave.
The strain in ties came following the Feb 13 airport assassination of Kim Jung Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Soon after North Korea announced its travel ban, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak condemned the move and said he was barring North Koreans from leaving the country.
"I have also instructed the Inspector-General of Police to prevent all North Korean citizens in Malaysia from leaving the country until we are assured of the safety and security of all Malaysians in North Korea," he said.