Malaysia yet to clarify what caused Kim Jong-nam death
Malaysia has still not been able to determine the cause of the alleged murder of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, last week at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, official sources said Tuesday.
Bangkok, Feb 21 .- Malaysia has still not been able to determine the cause of the alleged murder of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, last week at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, official sources said Tuesday.
The Malaysian health ministry is still awaiting the results of the post-mortem examination carried out on Feb. 15 - two days after the incident - to confirm the identity of the victim.
"These analyses are meant to confirm the identity of the victim and also the cause of death; both of which are still pending at the moment," read a statement issued by the ministry Tuesday.
The forensic experts conducted a tomography, internal and external exams of the body, and a dental analysis, before sending it to the police, who then sent it to specialized laboratories for analysis, according to the statement.
Director General Of Health Malaysia Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a press conference the post-mortem analysis has ruled out a heart attack, as claimed by the North Korean ambassador, reported Channel News Asia.
Moreover, a facial examination was carried out, but forensic experts failed to confirm the victim's identity, although the South Korean government identified him as Kim Jong-nam last week.
No family member has appeared to identify the body yet although according to local media reports Kim Jong-nam's son Kim Han Sol is expected to arrive Tuesday, Abdullah added.
Malaysian authorities have said they will reveal the autopsy results Wednesday.
On Feb. 13, Kim Jong-nam, who was traveling on a diplomatic passport under the name of Kim Chol was attacked by two women - who allegedly sprayed poison on his face - at the Kuala Lumpur airport.
The two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, were arrested and had said they were hired by some unknown people to play a prank on the victim.
The Malaysian police also arrested a Malaysian man and a North Korean chemist while a search and arrest warrant has been issued against four other North Korean nationals, who, reportedly left for Pyongyang shortly after the alleged murder. EFE