Malaysia: N. Korean’s family may be scared to come forward
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s prime minister said Wednesday that relatives of the half brother of North Korea’s ruler may be too scared to help police investigating his mysterious poisoning death in Kuala Lumpur. A man claiming to be the victim’s son, meanwhile, appeared in an online video saying he and his family were safe in a location he did not reveal.
Prime Minister Najib Razak spoke a day after a stunning diplomatic breakdown involving the investigation into Kim Jong Nam’s killing, with North Korea barring Malaysians from leaving its territory and Malaysia responding in kind. While on Tuesday he denounced North Korea for “effectively holding our citizens hostage,” Najib said Wednesday that his country still wants to negotiate.
“You must appreciate — I know you’re hungry for news — but you must appreciate that this is a sensitive matter and that sometimes it’s best conducted in secrecy so that we can achieve the desired result,” Najib told reporters. He said Malaysians in North Korea are going about their lives normally, and he was not worried about their safety.
Malaysian authorities have charged two women — one Indonesian, one Vietnamese — with murder for allegedly swiping Kim’s face with VX nerve agent as he waited for a flight home to Macau on Feb. 13. He was dead within 20 minutes. Malaysian is seeking seven North Korean suspects, including an embassy official. The investigation has infuriated North Korea, which has dismissed the inquiry as politically motivated.