DPM: Kim Jong-nam identified through DNA

The identity of the North Korean national Kim Jong-nam had been verified based on a ‘sample’ provided by his child, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said this after North Korea cast doubt on the identity of the deceased, whose travel documents identified him as Kim Chol.

“We know that the inspector-general of police had verified that the body is the remains of Kim Jong-nam based on a sample provided by the deceased's child.

“The sample had undergone forensic and DNA procedures, and I again wish to confirm that the body is that of Kim Jong-nam,” he told a press conference after his working visit at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today.

Jong-nam is known to have at least one son, Kim Han-sol.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar had previously declined to disclose the methods used to identify the body, and only disclosed that the police had fulfilled the legal requirements of body identification.
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Yesterday, the North Korean permanent representative to the United Nations, Kim In-Ryong had reportedly denied that the deceased was Jong-Nam, who is the half-brother of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

He also reportedly reiterated the call for an international investigation.

When asked, Zahid said Malaysia is open to such an investigation, but added, “(North Korea) may ask the international body (UN) to set up whatever inquiry, board of inquiry, or any other effort, but they have to ask themselves whether they are listening to decision previously made by many international bodies.

“I don’t intend to interfere in their domestic affairs, but when matters involve the international community, we should ask ourselves whether we are following through whatever decision or resolutions made by international organisations.”

At the press conference, Zahid confirmed that talks are already underway between North Korea and Malaysia regarding the ongoing diplomatic row at the ‘secretary-general level’ since Monday, and the talk is still ongoing.

This is to seek the return of nine Malaysian nationals stranded in the republic after North Korea banned them from leaving the country, in the wake of the chill in relations between North Korea and Malaysia.

Malaysia had also imposed a similar ban on North Koreans in Malaysia.

Asked whether Malaysia is considering the possibility of an exchange of the nine Malaysians for two North Koreans wanted by the police for Jong-nam’s murder, Zahid replied, “We are looking into all possibilities.”

The two wanted by the Malaysian police are second secretary Hyon Kwang-song and North Korea airline Air Koryo staffer Kim Uk-il, who are reportedly sheltering at the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Police cannot raid its premises as it is protected under the Vienna Convention that governs the conduct of diplomatic affiars.

The idea of a ‘prisoner swap’ surfaced after an Oriental Daily report claimed that this was among the options on the negotiating table between Wisma Putra and a North Korean delegation in Malaysia.- Mkini