Malaysia hopes for talks with North Korea in 'next few days'

A police officer closes the main gate of forensic department at Kuala Lumpur Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Saturday, March 11, 2017. Malaysian police on Friday formally identified Kim Jong Nam as the victim of a fatal nerve agent attack at Kuala Lumpur's airport, an expected but significant development in a case that has broken down the once-warm ties between North Korea and Malaysia. (AP Photo/Daniel Chan) (The Associated Press)

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A Malaysian police officer checks on the back street of forensic department at Kuala Lumpur Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Saturday, March 11, 2017. Malaysian police on Friday formally identified Kim Jong Nam as the victim of a fatal nerve agent attack at Kuala Lumpur's airport, an expected but significant development in a case that has broken down the once-warm ties between North Korea and Malaysia. (AP Photo/Daniel Chan) (The Associated Press)

Journalists wait outside forensic department at Kuala Lumpur Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Saturday, March 11, 2017. Malaysian police on Friday formally identified Kim Jong Nam as the victim of a fatal nerve agent attack at Kuala Lumpur's airport, an expected but significant development in a case that has broken down the once-warm ties between North Korea and Malaysia. (AP Photo/Daniel Chan) (The Associated Press)

Malaysia's foreign minister says the government hopes to begin formal talks with North Korea in the "next few days" on solving a diplomatic dispute that has seen the two countries bar each other's citizens from leaving.

The dispute stems from the mysterious poisoning death of the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Feb. 13 at Kuala Lumpur's airport. Malaysia says Kim Jong Nam died after two women smeared his face with the banned VX nerve agent, but North Korea — which is widely suspected to be behind the attack — rejects the findings.

On Tuesday, both countries announced they were barring each other's citizens from leaving.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Saturday that both sides are ready to launch talks.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/malaysia-hopes-for-talks-with-north-korea-in-next-few-days