Seoul: North Korea executed 5 senior officials with anti-aircraft guns

When asked in court if she understood the charge, Doan said “yes but I am not guilty”, the lawyer said.

He added Kim’s death would have been “painful”.

Prosecutors will apply for the two accused to be tried jointly on the next court date of April 13.

South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-se said the murder of Kim Jong Nam should be a “wake-up call” to the global community, calling for the United Nations to punish North Korea for what it describes as the North Korea-authored assassination of ruler Kim Jong Un’s estranged half-brother.

Kim Jong Nam (left) is the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

According to the Straits Times, police sources said Ri was arrested after they traced the license plate number of the auto carrying several other North Korean suspects from the murder.

Kim said all four members of the assassination groups fled to North Korea after the killing. He said the protocol is to release it to the next-of-kin once identification is completed. The leaflets aim to tell North Koreans, often in the dark about news outside their country, about Mr Kim’s death and that their leader, Mr Kim Jong Un, had ordered him killed to tighten his own grip on power.

China’s patience may be wearing thin, as frustrations double up over North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and apparent willingness to use chemical weapons.

Yun Byung-se called for “collective measures” against North Korea, including possible suspension of its United Nations membership.

He recommends that a “menu of options” be made available to the global community, including banning all of their aircraft from worldwide airports, placing greater sanctions on individuals and entities, placing North Korea once more on the list of state-terrorism sponsors, and a proportional use of force directed at chemical weapons facilities.

Despite North Korea requesting that no autopsy occur, Malaysian officials conducted an post-mortem that they said found the chemical on Kim’s eyes and face. He died shortly after two women went up behind him and wiped something onto his face.

Both women have claimed they thought they were taking part in a practical joke. Indonesian officials have said Aisyah told them she was paid the equivalent of $90.

This follows Jong-chol’s arrest by the police last February 17, to facilitate investigations into the killing which occurred at the KL International Airport 2 (klia2), four days earlier.

Appearing in court on Wednesday, Huong wore a yellow shirt and blue jeans, and her wavy hair was dyed blonde. Police said she suffered a bout of vomiting while in custody that they said was due to side-effects from exposure to VX. “She would only follow”, the friend said.

Indonesian suspect Siti Aisyah, center, is escorted by police officers as she arrives in court on Wednesday.

Speaking in Jakarta, Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir hoped Aishah would receive a fair trial.