Officer: North Koreans fled after Kim died

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia — A police officer testified Monday at the trial of two women accused of killing the half brother of North Korea’s leader that four suspects at large believed to have plotted with the women were North Koreans who fled Malaysia after the assassination.

Police investigating officer Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz also said an employee from North Korea’s state-owned carrier arranged flight tickets for the four men so they could depart after the attack on

Kim Jong Nam in the Kuala Lumpur airport.

Wan Azirul, who earlier identified the four only as Mr. Y, Mr. Chang, Hanamori and James, revealed their full identifies as the trial entered a second month.

The two young women — Siti Aisyah of Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam, who are accused of smearing VX nerve agent onto Kim’s face — are the only suspects detained in the brazen assassination of Kim, an outcast from North Korea’s ruling family. Both women pleaded not guilty at the start of their trial to murder charges that carry mandatory death sentences.

Wan Azirul testified Monday that Hanamori, whom he earlier identified as the mastermind of the attack, is Ri Jae Nam, 57, and that

Mr. Chang, who was seen in airport security video with Aisyah before the killing, is Hong Song Hak, 34.

Mr. Y, seen in the video with Huong, is Ri Ji Hyon, 33, and the fourth suspect, James, is O Jong Gil, 54, Wan Azirul said.

He said the four men entered Malaysia on different days beginning last Jan. 31.

Wan Azirul said three of the men flew off to Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, more than three hours after the attack.

Police earlier said the four are believed to be back in North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang.