The nine Malaysians, comprising staff of the Malaysian Embassy in Pyongyang and their families who were barred from leaving North Korea in the aftermath of the murder of North Korean Kim Jong-nam last month, were not harassed by North Korean authorities during the travel ban and their life went on as usual.

Counsellor Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, one of the nine who were held in the North Korean capital, also thanked Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for bringing them home.

He said they were nevertheless concerned with the ban issued by the North Korean authorities since they had committed no wrong.

"But we know that we have to keep our spirit up. I must admit that most of us were concerned that our parents and close family members are worried about us," he told reporters after arriving from Pyongyang at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport, at 5am today.