KUALA LUMPUR: Police are fully aware that three suspects sought for the killing of Kim Jong-nam are ‘hiding’ inside the North Korean Embassy here.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said this when asked to comment on the recent footage which has surfaced of several men, resembling the suspects, playing snooker at the embassy recently.
“We are aware of the identities of those inside the embassy… it does not matter who is caught on the video.
“All we want is for them to surrender,” he told a press conference after a handing over ceremony of a Kia Sorento for the police, courtesy of Naza Motors.
On Monday, All-Nippon Network (ANN News) operated by Asahi TV, aired a one-minute video footage showing the suspect, resembling Kim Uk-il, playing snooker with several others on the second floor of the embassy building in Jalan Batai, Bukit Damansara.
On Feb 22, Khalid said the police were seeking Uk-il, 37, an employee of North Korean airline, Air Koryo, to shed light on Jong-nam's murder.
Apart from Uk-il, the police are also looking for other suspects, including the embassy's second secretary, Kwang Hyon-song, 44, who is still 'hiding' at the embassy building, as well as Ri Ji-u, 30, also known as 'James', still believed to be in the country.
Khalid also said there has been no progress on the Interpol Red Notice issued on four North Korean suspects who already returned to Pyongyang.
“We are still tracking them and several others,” he said, refusing to disclose on the number of suspects wanted by police.
Asked if police were aware of a third party, particularly a North Korean ‘agent’ carrying out their own investigation into the murder, Khalid said such an activity would be illegal without approval from the police.
“Any third parties including legal authorities who want to carry out their own investigation must get our approval as they do not have any power to interview people or to look at the related documents.
“I wonder how they are going do to it but as long as they do not break any laws… please go ahead,” he said.
Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was assassinated by two women assailants who wiped his face with the deadly VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 on Feb 13.