North Korean Arrested Over Kim Jong-nam’s Killing

NORTH KOREA, Feb 18 – Malaysian police have arrested a fourth suspect believed to be linked to the death of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. According to a statement by Malaysian police on Saturday, the suspect was arrested a day earlier in Selangor state and was identified as 47-year-old Ri Jong-chol from North Korea.

On Wednesday, a 28-year-old woman named Doan Thi Huong and carrying Vietnamese travel documents was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the scene of Monday’s poisoning. Two others were also detained in relation to the incident: A 25-year-old Indonesian woman called Siti Aishah, and a man who was accompanying her, reportedly a Malaysian national.

Police are also searching for other suspects including four men, who are believed to be involved in the case. Kim Jong-nam was on his way to the Chinese territory of Macau, where he had been reportedly residing under China’s protection. The 46-year-old was targeted in the shopping plaza at the airport and had not yet gone through passport control, a senior government official said.

A second autopsy on the body will take place on Saturday after Wednesday’s first autopsy was reportedly inconclusive, a senior Malaysian official said. However, Selangor state police chief Abdul Samah dismissed reports that a second autopsy would have to conducted.

North Korea said it would categorically reject Malaysia’s autopsy report, and accused Malaysia of “colluding with outside forces”, in a veiled reference to rival nation South Korea. North Korea’s ambassador Kang Chol said the Malaysian side forced the post-mortem without their permission and witnessing.

He said this after Malaysian police rejected demands made earlier in the week to return the remains. He said they will categorically reject the result of the post-mortem conducted unilaterally excluding their attendance. Malaysia hit back by saying the country’s rules must be followed. Inspector General Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar also told  a local news agency that while in Malaysia, everyone has to obey and follow the rules and regulations. He said that also includes North Korea.