North Korea is ‘behind murder’

Police believe death of leader’s brother ordered

KUALA LUMPUR // Malaysian police yesterday said they believed five North Koreans were involved in the killing of the half-brother of leader Kim Jong- un, and that four got away straight afterwards. South Korea said the announcement proved Pyongyang was behind the murder of Kim Jong-nam, who died after being squirted in the face with an unidentified liquid at Kuala Lumpur International Airport last Monday.

Malaysian police are seeking four North Korean men, said Noor Rashid Ibrahim, deputy inspector-general of police. Another North Korean, Ri Jong-chol, 46 was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Suspects Ri Ji-hyon, O Jonggil, Ri Jae Nam and Hong Song- sac, aged between 33 and 57, entered Malaysia in February or late January, the police chief said. Three more North Koreans were wanted for questioning, he said. An Indonesian woman, her Malaysian boyfriend, and a Vietnamese woman are also under arrest.

“Considering five suspects are North Korean nationals, we view that the North Korean government is behind the incident,” Seoul’s unification ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said yesterday. Pyongyang demanded Jongnam’s body be returned but Malaysia said it must remain in the country until it is identified through a DNA sample from a family member – which Pyongyang has refused to provide.

Results from the autopsy performed on Wednesday were not yet available.

Jong-nam, 45, was attacked on Monday as he prepared to board a plane to Macau. He was jumped by two women who squirted liquid in his face, suffered a seizure and died before arriving at hospital.