Diplomatic Row Erupts Over Probe Into Death

Diplomatic Row Erupts Over Probe Into Death - A diplomatic row has erupted following the assassination of Kim Jong-nam with Malaysia recalling its ambassador in Pyongyang and summoning North Korea’s envoy in Kuala Lumpur.

North Korea has come out strongly to criticise Malaysia’s handling of the murder investigation of Jong-nam, the exiled half brother of the country’s ruler Kim Jong-un, and has alleged that Malaysia has been colluding with Pyongyang’s enemies.

Wisma Putra on the other hand has defended the measures taken by the police and others involved in the probe, and said the allegations by North Korea’s Ambassador Kang Chol were “baseless”.

Things came to a boil on Day 8 since the assassination took place, with Kang holding his second press conference yesterday to demand that his country be given a role in the investigation.

In his first press conference last Friday, Kang had demanded that Malaysia release Jong-nam’s body to his country.

“The Malaysian Government takes very seriously any unfounded attempt to tarnish its reputation,” Wisma Putra said in a statement which was released by the Foreign Ministry yesterday morning.

The statement, which mentioned Kang by name, was issued while he was still in Wisma Putra, where he was summoned to meet with deputy secretary-general 1 Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin.

The statement said Kang had in a press conference insinuated that with respect to the death of a Korean national on Feb 13, “the Malaysian Government had something to conceal”.

He also alleged that Malaysia was “colluding and playing to the gallery of external forces”.

The ministry said that as the death occurred on Malaysian soil under mysterious circumstances, it was the responsibility of its Government to conduct an investigation to identify the cause of death.

The statement said the North Korean embassy was informed that the death had been classified as sudden death and as such, a post-mortem would have to be carried out.

The embassy had also been informed that once the investigation was concluded, the body would be handed to the next of kin in accordance with existing Malaysian laws and procedures.

“The Malaysian Government has been transparent. The embassy has been kept informed of developments related to the matter as well as the processes involved under Malaysian law.

“For these reasons, the Malaysian Government views the criticism made by the Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as baseless,” the statement added.

When contacted, Malaysia’s Ambassador to North Korea Mohamad Nizan Mohamad said he will likely be flying back to Malaysia today to consult with Wisma Putra on the matter.