Malaysia bans travel to DPRK, soccer match postponed

Malaysia on Thursday banned its citizens from traveling to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) as the country faces increasing diplomatic pressure over its weapons programs.

The travel ban prompted the region's football governing body to postpone for the third time an Asian Cup qualifier match between Malaysia and DPRK scheduled for Oct. 5 in Pyongyang. The match has already been delayed twice due to security issues.

The Asian Football Confederation said in a statement it will have to decide on the future status of the match.

Malaysia's foreign ministry cited DPRK's missile tests and related developments as the reasons for the travel ban and said it would last until further notice.

DPRK has been targeted in recent months by stricter sanctions and increasing diplomatic pressure, with Kuwait and Mexico expelling its envoys in recent weeks. Since July, DPRK has launched its first intercontinental ballistic missiles, has flown midrange missiles over Japan into the Pacific and has detonated its sixth nuclear test.

Malaysia is one of its few remaining diplomatic partners in the world, even though tensions escalated after the DPRK leader's estranged half brother was killed at the Kuala Lumpur airport in February. Both countries imposed travel bans on the other's citizens that were lifted after a deal was reached in March.

Two women from Vietnam and Indonesia have been charged in the murder.

(ABC)