Kim body to be returned in deal with Malaysia: NK

Release brings end to diplomatic spat

North Korea on Thursday said it had reached agreement with Malaysia for the return of the body of a citizen killed in Kuala Lumpur in February and identified by South Korean and US officials as the half- brother of the North’s leader.

The body is to be returned to family in North Korea, the official KCNA news agency said, adding that both countries would lift reciprocal bans on travel by citizens and guarantee their safety, letting nine Malaysians now in Pyongyang return home.

North Korean citizens in Kuala Lumpur will also be allowed to return home, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a statement, which was confirmed by North Korean state media.

“Following the completion of the autopsy on the deceased and receipt of a letter from his family requesting the remains be returned to North Korea, the coroner has approved the release of the body,” said Najib.

The agreement was reached after recent talks between North Korea and Malaysia in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, it added.

The half- brother of North Korean leader Kim Jongun was poisoned with the lethal nerve agent VX in a brazen Cold War- style assassination on February 13 in Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The killing triggered a bitter row between Malaysia and North Korea, which expelled each other’s ambassadors and barred their citizens from leaving.

Najib said the nine Malaysians prevented from leaving North Korea “have now been allowed to return to Malaysia.”

“They took off from Pyongyang today at 7: 45 pm Malaysian time, and will land in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow around 5: 00 am,” he said in the statement that referred to Kim Jongnam as “the deceased” rather than by name.

“I had a deep personal concern about this matter, and we worked intensively behind the scenes to achieve this successful outcome.

“Many challenges were overcome to ensure the return of our fellow Malaysians. The safety and security of our citizens will always be my first priority.”