Hisham: War will not break out, but allies give us an edge

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is confident that the current crisis with North Korea will not deteriorate to the point of war.

"If you ask me if it would go to the extent of war... No. Even though the situation is tense, it will not lead to war," Hishammuddin told reporters when met at Parliament today.

Asked if the Malaysian armed forces was prepared if such a situation happens, the minister replied: "We will deal with it when the time comes."

Hishammuddin said Malaysia would not rely on its military assets only, citing the country's close allies and bilateral ties with other nations.

"For example, during MH370, we did not have the assets to locate the missing plane. But 26 nations came forward to help us with high-tech equipment.

"This is our advantage. Don't be concerned from the viewpoint of assets with regard to a country that gives much importance to its defence assets.

"We might not be able to compete with North Korea, but that does not mean we don't have our own advantages to face whatever probabilities. But we will not reach that level," he added.

Furthermore, Hishammuddin said, the murder of Kim Jong-nam at the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2) was not as huge compared with other ongoing international issues.

"You need to look at this with a fair viewpoint," he added.

Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, died after being smeared with VX nerve agent while he waited to board a flight to Macau.

The incident ignited a diplomatic row between Pyongyang and Putrajaya.

At present, nine Malaysians, embassy staff and their families, are stranded in North Korea following a travel ban by Pyongyang.- Mkini