Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says Pyongyang is "effectively holding our citizens hostage" by barring them from leaving North Korea.  In retaliation, the Razak government has ordered all North Koreans from leaving Malaysia.

The two countries have already ejected each other's ambassadors over the poisoning death of leader North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's estranged half-brother Kim Jong-nam at Kuala Lumpur airport last month.  The Southeast Asian nation is pursuing seven more North Korean suspects in the killing of Jong-nam, including an official from the North Korean embassy.  Malaysia has not formally accused Pyongyang of ordering the hit, although South Korean has.

The official North Korean news agency said Malaysians would be banned from leaving "until the safety of the diplomats and citizens of (North Korea) in Malaysia is fully guaranteed through the fair settlement of the case that occurred in Malaysia".  It's believed there are 11 Malaysians in North Korea: Three working at the Malaysian Embassy, two United Nations workers and six family members. 

Najib Razak called North Korea's actions to be an "abhorrent act, effectively holding our citizens hostage" in disregard of international law.  Early reports indicated his order would ban only North Korean embassy workers from leaving Malaysia but now it appears to cover all North Koreans.

Two women - one from Vietnam and another from Indonesia - are accused of rubbing the deadly nerve agent VX on Kim Jong-nam's face.  He died 20 minutes later.  The women have indicated they were duped and believe they were merely performing a prank for a reality TV show, but they have been charged and face teh death penalty if convicted.