NORTH KOREA and Malaysia banned each others’ citizens from leaving their territories yesterday.

The moves were the latest escalation of the diplomatic row over the killing of Kim Jong Nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s estranged half-brother, at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13.

Pyongyang blocked Malaysians from leaving — there are believed to be 11 in North Korea, including three embassy staff and six family members — and Malaysia followed suit within hours.