Kuala Lumpur – Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was not killed with a chemical poison, a North Korean diplomat said Thursday.
Kim had a history of high blood pressure and could have died from a heart attack, said Ri Tong Il, Pyongyang’s former deputy ambassador to the United Nations.
Ri referred to the victim as “Kim Chol,” the name on the man’s passport, as Pyongyang has refused to confirm that the victim is indeed Kim Jong Nam.
The diplomat insisted that samples of the toxic substance allegedly used in the February 13 attack at Kuala Lumpur’s international airport be sent to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for further evaluation.
February 25, 2017 – Kuala Lumpur – A North Korea flag is waved at North Korea Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. (Credit Image: © Kepy via ZUMA Wire)
Also Thursday, Malaysian officials said that a North Korean man in custody over last month’s killing would be released and deported.
Ri Jong Chol, who was detained on February 17, will be sent to the immigration department on Friday before being deported to North Korea because he does not have valid travel documents, Malaysia’s Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali said.
Police have not said why Ri was being held. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi also said that North Korean nationals travelling to Malaysia would need to apply for visas starting next week.
Previously, North Koreans could enter Malaysia without a visa and remain for up to 30 days. The policy change is meant to address security concerns following Kim’s killing, the minister said.
On Wednesday, two women were charged with murder for allegedly poisoning Kim by rubbing VX nerve agent on his face.
Malaysian police are still searching for a total of seven North Koreans believed to be linked to the killing, including a diplomat at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur and an airline worker with Air Koryo, the state national airline.
On Tuesday, Pyongyang sent a high-level delegation, including Ri Tong Il, to Malaysia seeking the body of the victim.
The aftermath of the high-profile killing has strained diplomatic relations between Pyongyang and Kuala Lumpur.
-dpa
