By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR (AA) - Pyongyang has officially requested Malaysia to repatriate the body of Kim Jong-nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half-brother.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters Thursday that the North Korean embassy has conveyed the country's wish to claim the remains of Kim Jong-nam.
He died on Monday after having apparently been poisoned as he waited for a flight in Kuala Lumpur.
Three suspects -- two women with foreign documents and a Malaysian man -- have been arrested in connection with the death, according to police.
Hamidi said in administrative capital Putrajaya that Malaysia has agreed to the request "in principle", pending certain procedures.
"We will facilitate the request by any foreign government but there are procedures to be fulfilled," he said.
"Our policy is that we have to honor our bilateral relations with any foreign country."
Hamidi also confirmed that Kim Jong-nam was carrying two different forms of identification during the incident.
"He had an undercover document and an authentic passport. We are verifying those in custody currently," he added.