A DAP motion to debate the diplomatic row between Malaysia and North Korea has been rejected due to security reasons.

In a statement, Batu Gajah MP V Sivakumar quoted Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia as saying there was a need for Malaysia to maintain diplomatic communication channels with North Korea to ensure that Malaysians there are safe.

Sivakumar also quoted the speaker as saying there were concerns that actions contrary to such efforts would make resolving the crisis more difficult.