Malaysia releases N. Korean held in fatal chemical attack

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian police on Friday released the only North Korean it had detained in the killing of the half brother of North Korea’s leader, as it condemned the use of a banned nerve agent in the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Ri Jong Chol, who had been detained since Feb. 17, four days after Kim Jong Nam’s death, was handed over to immigration officials for deportation. Police never said what they had thought his role had been in the attack, but national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed Friday that Ri was released due to a lack of evidence against him.

Malaysian Attorney General Mohamad Apandi Ali has said that Ri would be deported because he didn’t have any valid travel documents.

Two women — one Indonesian, one Vietnamese — have been charged with murdering Kim at an airport terminal Feb. 13. They were caught on grainy surveillance video smearing what Malaysian authorities say was VX nerve agent on his face and eyes, though both reportedly say they were duped into thinking they were playing a harmless prank.

Police are searching for seven North Korean suspects, including four believed to have left Malaysia the day Kim, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was killed. One of the suspects believed to still be in Malaysia is an official at the North Korean Embassy.