Malaysia to deport 50 DPRK workers with expired visas

Malaysian police besiege the entrance to the DPRK embassy (Photo: EPA/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia will deport about 50 workers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with expired visas, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on March 14.

The overstaying workers are among the 140 DPRK nationals working in the eastern Malaysian state of Sarawak, mainly in mining and construction.

These people were brought to light after the DPRK and Malaysia banned each other's citizens from leaving over an investigation into the death of a Korean citizen whose name was Kim Chol at a Malaysian airport.

Deputy Prime Minister Hamidi told reporters that Malaysia will send these workers back to Pyongyang. He did not elaborate on when and how they will be deported.

Those with valid visas can stay, Hamidi said, adding that currently, 315 DPRK nationals are living in Malaysia.

There are also 191 DPRK nationals under the Malaysia My Second Home programme, which allows foreigners to stay in the country for up to 10 years.-VNA