North Korean delegation arrives in Malaysia to get body of Kim Jong-nam

Meanwhile, Malaysian attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali said that the two women accused of killing Kim — Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong — will be charged with murder.

The Pyongyang delegation includes Ri Tong-il, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations. AP Photo

KUALA LUMPUR // A high-level North Korean delegation arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday seeking the body of leader’s Kim Jong-un’s half brother, the victim of a nerve-agent attack that many suspect Pyongyang itself of orchestrating.

The body of Kim Jong-nam, killed on February 13 at Kuala Lumpur’s airport, is at the centre of a diplomatic battle between North Korea and Malaysia. Pyongyang had opposed Malaysian officials to conduct an autopsy, while Malaysia has resisted giving up the body without getting DNA samples and confirmation from next of kin.

The delegation includes Ri Tong-il, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations, who said outside the North Korean Embassy on Tuesday that the diplomats were in Malaysia to seek the retrieval of the body and the release of a North Korean arrested in the case. He said the delegation also seeks the “development of friendly relationships” between North Korea and Malaysia.

Malaysia has confirmed that the victim of the attack is Kim Jong-nam, half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea, however, has identified the victim only as a North Korean national with a diplomatic passport.

The killing of Kim Jong-nam took place amid crowds of travellers at Kuala Lumpur airport and appeared to be a well-planned hit. Malaysian authorities say North Koreans put the deadly nerve agent VX on the hands of two women who then placed the toxin on Kim’s face. Kim died on the way to a hospital, within about 20 minutes of the attack.

Malaysian attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali said that the two women accused of killing Kim — Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong — will be charged with murder Wednesday and would face a mandatory death sentence if convicted.

Two other suspects in the killing have been arrested: a Malaysian who is out on bail and a North Korean who remains in custody. Asked if the North Korean will be charged, Mr Apandi said it depends on the outcome of the investigations.

Authorities are seeking another seven North Korean suspects, including four who fled the country the day of Kim’s death and are believed to be back in North Korea.

* Associated Press