Malaysia says DNA sample confirms murdered Kim Jong Nam’s identity

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed Malaysia government will be deporting another 50 North Koreans from Sarawak, whose working permits have expired.

North Korea has rejected the autopsy finding.

On Friday, Malaysian police formally identified Jong Nam as the victim of a nerve agent attack at Kuala Lumpur’s airport on February 13 – but did not release details on how the identity was determined to ensure “the security of witnesses”.

Responding to calls by North Korea for an worldwide probe to be conducted into the Jong-nam saga, Ahmad Zahid said the government had no problems with allowing such inquiries.

On March 10, Malaysian police officially confirmed that the identify of the killed North Korean was Kim Jong-nam, the first son of late former leader Kim Jong-il.

Khalid Abu Bakar, the chief of Malaysian police, told reporters that police confirmed Kim’s identity “through all necessary procedures”, but declined to say whether they managed to get hold of the DNA of family members.

With Jong Nam and his family living in exile in China, their records, including fingerprints, were kept by authorities in Macau, where they were said to be living for many years.

In a tit-for-tat move, Malaysia decided not to allow North Korean diplomats to leave the Southeast Asian country.

Kim didn’t reply but sent the mission’s spokesman Jo Jong Chol out afterward to say: “We are not interested in any kind of talks. which is aiming to make the DPRK to abandon its nuclear program”.

“I again confirm that it is Kim Jong Nam”.

Hishammuddin said that Malaysia could not match North Korea in terms of military assets, but it could count on allies in the event of any confrontation, while super powers had their own issues with North Korea.

The deputy prime minister said the two countries are still negotiating, but did not elaborate.

He said anyone including North Korea could ask for such inquiry. They are embassy staff and their families and United Nations workers.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, have since been charged with his murder and face the death penalty if found guilty. While investigation on the murder case is still ongoing, the Malaysian police have announced that elder Kim was killed by VX nerve agent in a terrorist scheme suspected to have been masterminded by Pyongyang.