Malaysian Police: A Senior North Korean Diplomat Among Suspects in Kim Jong-nam's Murder

The Malaysian police have released the latest findings from their investigation into the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. According to the agency, a senior diplomat working at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur is among the suspects in the murder of Kim Jong-nam. Kim Jong-nam was attacked at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 15 while waiting for a flight to the special administrative region of Macau and died hours later, reportedly from a toxic substance. The half-brother of the North Korean leader had been living abroad after being ousted from the Kim family's power circle years ago. In images released from the moment of the attack, he is seen alone as two women approach him from behind and smear something on his face. Hours after his murder, South Korean and U.S. officials pointed the finger at North Korea. North Korea did not respond for a long time after the incident, but eventually, the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur stated that it does not accept the results of the autopsy and investigations conducted in Malaysia. On Wednesday, March 4, the Malaysian police chief presented new information about the investigation to reporters, shifting attention back to the North Korean embassy. Khalid Abu Bakar stated that a senior embassy official and a representative from the country's only airline, Air Koryo, are among the suspects. According to Mr. Khalid, the individual in question was the 'second secretary' of the embassy. The Malaysian police say both suspects, linked to North Korean government entities, are currently in Malaysia and have been asked to come forward for questioning. He also added that the police are almost certain that four suspects being pursued left Malaysia on the same day as Kim Jong-nam's murder and ultimately returned to Pyongyang. Previously, Indonesian police had reported that at least three suspects traveled from Jakarta to Dubai. According to one report, these suspects then went to Vladivostok in the Russian Far East and from there returned to Pyongyang. Khalid Abu Bakar, during his press conference, also stated that the two women arrested, holding Vietnamese and Indonesian passports, 'were aware they were committing murder with toxic substances.' One of the women had previously claimed she thought she was participating in a prank for a hidden camera. CCTV footage from Kuala Lumpur airport shows that the woman, who 'was carrying the toxic substance,' went to the airport restroom after distancing herself from Kim Jong-nam, which Khalid said was 'due to her knowledge of the toxic substance and to wash her hands.' North Korea or its embassy has yet to respond to the Malaysian police chief's statements. 'Radio Free Asia,' part of the U.S. non-profit news service, reported last week, citing a government official in Pyongyang, that North Korean diplomatic officials had previously attempted to persuade Kim Jong-nam to return to his homeland before the murder.