Kim Jong Nam's body was released by Malaysia and returned to North Korea via China on Thursday in a trade for nine Malaysians being detained in Pyongyang.
Kim Jong Nam, the older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, died in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 13 and Malaysian authorities said his death was part of a bizarre assassination using VX nerve agent, reported Reuters.
Malaysian police took statements from three North Korean agents before they were allowed to leave the country as part of the exchange.
"The body of the DPRK citizen who died in Malaysia and relevant DPRK citizens have returned to the DPRK today via Beijing," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a press briefing and using the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, reported the BBC News.
The BBC News said the North Korean government was suspected of orchestrating the death against the late Kim Jong Ill's oldest son. Kim Jong Nam was passed over to lead the country when his father died in 2011 in favor of the younger Kim Jong Un.
North Korea had demanded Kim Jong Nam's body back immediately before an autopsy could be performed, but Malaysian authorities refused. Malaysian officials said they had the right to conduct an autopsy with the death happening on its land.
Malaysian prosecutors have charged an Indonesian and a Vietnamese national, both women, in killing Kim Jong Nam.
Sky News said Kim Jong Nam's body, along with three North Korean agents, was taken to China and transferred to another plane for the trip back to Pyongyang.
South Korean politicians claimed Kim Jong Un had issued a "standing order" for his half-brother's assassination and there was a failed attempt in 2012. Kim Jong Nam, who had been living in the Chinese territory of Macau, had publicly criticized his family's dynastic control in the past, noted Sky News.
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