North Korea said it was banning Malaysians from leaving the country as its diplomatic battle escalated dramatically over the poisoning death of Kim Jong Nam, the North Korean leader's estranged half brother.

Chinese relatives of passengers aboard the Malaysia Airlines plane that went missing six months ago marked the date by praying at a Beijing temple, after police broke up a gathering they held outside.

Commentary in China’s state-run media urged people to react “rationally” to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, after days of protests by passengers’ relatives who say Malaysia has mishandled the investigation.

China demanded yesterday that Malaysia turn over the satellite data used to conclude that a Malaysia Airlines jetliner had crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, killing 239.

Furious that Malaysia has declared their loved ones lost in a plane crash without physical evidence, Chinese relatives of the missing marched to the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing today.