Media members camp outside embassy amid news of release of Jong Nam's body

After the news of Kim Jong-nam's body having been released from the National Institute of Forensic Medicine (IPFN) at Kuala Lumpur Hospital yesterday, media members today camped outside the North Korean embassy compound to get comments from the embassy officials.

Reporters from local and foreign media gathered at Jalan Batai, Bukit Damansara as early as 7am.

Counsellor Kim Yu-song and his driver were seen leaving the embassy compound at about 8.40pm carrying some luggage bags. His destination is unknown.

However, there was no sign of the spokesman and former North Korean deputy ambassador to the UN, Ri Tong-il as he was not seen entering the embassy back after the alleged meeting in Jalan Bellamy last Saturday.

Yesterday, four men in plain clothes believed to be Special Branch policemen had entered the embassy compound and were there for about three hours.

Shortly after that, the body of Jong-nam was reported to be transferred out of IPFN in a white Toyota Alphard and was accompanied by several police vehicles.

Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was murdered at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) on Feb 13 by two women using the highly toxic VX nerve agent.

Since then, diplomatic relations between North Korea and Malaysia has soured following the statements given by former North Korean ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol.

On March 4, the Malaysian government declared the North Korean envoy Kang Chol persona non grata after he failed to appear when summoned by Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Foreign Ministry). He left Malaysia on March 6.

-- BERNAMA