South Korea asked Russia to arrest the four North Koreans, suspects in the murder in Kuala Lumpur, Kim Jong-Nam — brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-UN, but Moscow has taken this step due to the lack of sufficient grounds. About it reports on Tuesday, February 28, the South Korean newspaper “Chunan Ilbo”, citing a diplomatic source.
According to the newspaper, the intelligence agencies of South Korea, trying to cut off alleged criminals escape route to Pyongyang, appealed to the Russian authorities with a request to establish their whereabouts and to detain for the purpose of verification of their personalities. “But the Russian side rejected the request, allowing them to leave the country,” — says the newspaper.
According to “Chunan Ilbo” as the investigation into the murder of Kim Jong-Nam was at that time in the early stages, and the suspects was the nationality of the DPRK, the Russian Federation had no reason to comply with the request of Seoul.
Kim Jong-Nam, was killed on 13 February at the airport of Kuala Lumpur where he was going to fly to Macau to his family. According to the Minister of health of Malaysia, the death occurred due to a “serious paralysis”, caused by the action of highly toxic chemical known as nerve agent VX.
On suspicion of involvement in the crime was arrested a citizen of Indonesia a citizen of Myanmar (according to other sources — Vietnam), citizen of Malaysia, as well as a native North Korean Ri Jong Chol.
Also declared wanted are four citizens of the DPRK. According to preliminary data, they left Malaysia and headed to North Korea via Jakarta, Dubai, Moscow and Vladivostok. Currently, the alleged perpetrators are in Pyongyang.