North Korea has temporarily banned Malaysians from leaving the country to ensure the safety of its diplomats and citizens in Malaysia amid an escalating row over the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother Kim Jong-nam, according to a news report.

Its Foreign Ministry has notified the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang of the reason for the measure and said it hoped the case would be swiftly and fairly resolved in order to develop bilateral ties with Malaysia, stated a Reuters report quoting North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"In this period the diplomats and citizens of Malaysia may work and live normally under the same conditions and circumstances as before," read the report.

Met at the Parliament lobby this morning, Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican said there are 11 Malaysians in North Korea.

Among them are three embassy staff, two United Nations World Food programme staff members and their families.

In response, Putrajaya said all North Korean embassy staff will similarly not be allowed to leave Malaysia.

North Korean civilians are spared, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told media in Parliament today.

Additional reporting by Adrian Wong and Zulaikha Zulkifli