Pyongyang demands Kim’s body

NORTH Korea sent a high-level delegation to Malaysia yesterday to demand the body of leader Kim Jong-un’s half brother who was killed in a nerve-agent attack that many suspect the reclusive regime of orchestrating.

The body of Kim Jongnam, who was attacked in the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur’s international airport, is now at the centre of a diplomatic dispute. The Malaysian government has refused to release the body without DNA samples and confirmation from Kim’s next of kin. “We can keep it as long as we want,” said Subramaniam Sathavisam, Malaysia’s health minister.

The North Korean delegation includes Ri Tong-il, a former deputy ambassador to the United Nations, who said Pyongyang was also seeking the release of Ri Jong Chol, a North Korean chemist (45), who has been arrested in the case. Police are seeking seven other North Korean suspects.