North Korea to reject Jong-nam’s autopsy report, says envoy

KUALA LUMPUR: North Korea has accused the Malaysian Government of colluding with Pyongyang’s enemies over the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Its ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, who broke his silence, told reporters outside the Hospital Kuala Lumpur mortuary late last night that North Korea would reject the outcome of the post mortem “on its citizen without permission”.

“This is a violation of the human rights of our citizen and infringing upon our citizen disregarding the elementary international laws and consular laws,” he added.

Kang also accused Malaysia of refusing to hand over Jong-nam’s body despite earlier agreeing to release the body with the proper paperwork.

“We have submitted it, but the Malaysian side did not answer.

“This strongly suggested that the Malaysian side is trying to conceal something which needs more time and deceive us, and that they are colluding with the hostile forces towards us who are desperate to harm us of malice,” he added.

Kang urged the Malaysian Government not to be entangled in a political plot and asked that the body and the results of the post mortem be released to North Korea immediately.

He also said his side would take the matter to international court.

Earlier, Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Seri Abdul Samah Mat had said that Jong-nam’s body would not be released until a DNA sample has been provided by his family.

“It is normal procedure as we cannot release the body to just anyone, there must be some form of verification.

“So far, no family member has come to claim the body. We will take appropriate action if no family member comes forward,” he said.