KUALA LUMPUR: The body of Kim Jong-nam, who was killed at KLIA2 on Feb 13, is headed for Pyongyang.
The body was put on a flight to Beijing and left the country accompanied by two North Koreans whom the police had sought to assist in murder investigations.
Also with them were four North Korean negotiators who concluded their talks with Malaysian officials two days ago.
The team of negotiators from Pyongyang, led by a Vice-Minister for Oceania and Asia was negotiating with Foreign Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim.
According to sources the two men – North Korean embassy second secretary Hyon Kwang-song and Air Koryo personnel Kim Uk-il – were interviewed by Malaysian police two days ago.
“That was one of the concessions made during the negotiations. The two are not suspects but the police wanted to talk to them,” said a source.
It is learnt the North Koreans and the body left on a Malaysian Airlines flight.
Sources said that Pyongyang has given an assurance that the body would be handed over to Jong-nam’s next of kin.
Earlier in the day at the North Korean embassy here, cameras from pressmen flashed non-stop when a silver Toyota Alphard ferrying at least five people left the compound in a hurry at about 3.15pm.
Before the car left the compound, there was movement inside the vehicle, causing excitement among the media personnel who rushed to the main gate to try to get a glimpse of what was going on.
The lights on the car were also turned on and off several times before the vehicle eventually left the embassy.
A police car was also seen parked near the embassy, which is located in Bukit Damansara.
At the Hospital Kuala Lumpur mortuary, a van believed to be transporting Jong-nam’s body left the compound at about 1.40pm.
The relationship between Malaysia and North Korea became tense after the assassination of Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea has criticised Malaysia’s handling of the case, and accused Kuala Lumpur of colluding with Seoul in the investigations.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/03/31/jongnams-body-on-the-wayto-pyongyang-two-north-koreans-leave-malaysia-after-being-interviewed-by-pol/#dejuzojCz8htbV0u.99
