Malaysia identifies North Korean embassy official among suspects

Malaysian police identified a senior official in the North Korean embassy on Wednesday as a suspect in the murder of Kim Jong-nam, and said another suspect was linked to the employee of state airline Air Koryo.

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Telegraph - Malaysian police identified a senior official in the North Korean embassy on Wednesday as a suspect in the murder of Kim Jong-nam, and said another suspect was linked to the employee of state airline Air Koryo.

Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said at a news conference that he couldn't confirm whether North Korea's government was behind the death of Kim Jong-nam, but added that "what's clear is that those involved are North Koreans."

Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said both the embassy worker and the airline employee are still in Malaysia and have been called in for questioning. He said North Korean diplomat held the rank of second secretary at the embassy.

Police also confirmed details of the killing, saying that two women approached Kim Jong-nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half brother, at Kuala Lumpur's airport and wiped a toxin on his face.

Last week, Malaysian police arrested a North Korean man and two women from Vietnam and Indonesia as well as a Malaysian man.

Mr Khalid told the press that both women wiped a liquid, containing an as yet unidentified toxic substance, on Kim Jong-nam's face.

"Yes, the two female suspects knew that the substance they had were toxic. We don't know what kind of chemical was used," he said.

"They used their bare hands," he said, adding they were instructed to wash their hands afterwards.

Khalid said police will apply to extend the suspects remand in custody.

The North Korean suspect who would gave the women the toxin is in custody, Mr Khalid said, adding that Malaysian authorities are seeking seven others, including the embassy worker and the airline employee.

Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport last week while he was preparing to board a flight to Macau.

Khalid told a news conference that police "strongly believed" four other suspects who fled Malaysia on February 13, the day of the attack, had arrived in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. He added that Malaysian officials have asked North Korea to find the suspects and return them to Kuala Lumpur.