This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39451595
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Kim Jong-nam: Malaysians stranded in North Korea return home | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nine Malaysians who were prevented from leaving North Korea have arrived home, after the two countries struck a deal to end a diplomatic row. | |
| The quarrel, over last month's killing of Kim Jong-nam in Kuala Lumpur, had resulted in both countries banning each other's citizens from leaving. | The quarrel, over last month's killing of Kim Jong-nam in Kuala Lumpur, had resulted in both countries banning each other's citizens from leaving. |
| Malaysia has also allowed North Koreans to leave and released Mr Kim's body. | Malaysia has also allowed North Koreans to leave and released Mr Kim's body. |
| There is widespread suspicion that Pyongyang was responsible for orchestrating Mr Kim's murder. | There is widespread suspicion that Pyongyang was responsible for orchestrating Mr Kim's murder. |
| Mr Kim was the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The late Kim Jong-il's eldest son is thought to have fled North Korea after being passed over for the leadership. | Mr Kim was the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The late Kim Jong-il's eldest son is thought to have fled North Korea after being passed over for the leadership. |
| The nine Malaysian nationals were met by their relatives and a large media contingent at Kuala Lumpur airport early on Friday. | The nine Malaysian nationals were met by their relatives and a large media contingent at Kuala Lumpur airport early on Friday. |
| Those who have returned include the country's counsellor to North Korea, Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, embassy staff, and their families. | Those who have returned include the country's counsellor to North Korea, Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, embassy staff, and their families. |
| The counsellor said that when Pyongyang told them they could not leave North Korea, "we were very concerned especially since we had committed no wrong". | The counsellor said that when Pyongyang told them they could not leave North Korea, "we were very concerned especially since we had committed no wrong". |
| But he added they were "not particularly harassed" by North Korean authorities. "We were given the assurance that life could go on as normal," he said. | But he added they were "not particularly harassed" by North Korean authorities. "We were given the assurance that life could go on as normal," he said. |
| They were flown home in a business jet plane piloted by members of the Malaysian air force. | They were flown home in a business jet plane piloted by members of the Malaysian air force. |
| What was the spat about? | What was the spat about? |
| Following Mr Kim's killing on 13 February, North Korean officials demanded that the body be handed to them immediately without an autopsy. | Following Mr Kim's killing on 13 February, North Korean officials demanded that the body be handed to them immediately without an autopsy. |
| Pyongyang reacted angrily when Malaysia refused their requests. | Pyongyang reacted angrily when Malaysia refused their requests. |
| Malaysian authorities said they had the right to conduct an autopsy as he had been killed on Malaysian soil, and said they would only release the body to Mr Kim's family. | Malaysian authorities said they had the right to conduct an autopsy as he had been killed on Malaysian soil, and said they would only release the body to Mr Kim's family. |
| This prompted a war of words where North Korea's ambassador Kang Chol accused Malaysia of colluding with "hostile forces", allegations which Kuala Lumpur dubbed as "delusions, lies and half-truths". | This prompted a war of words where North Korea's ambassador Kang Chol accused Malaysia of colluding with "hostile forces", allegations which Kuala Lumpur dubbed as "delusions, lies and half-truths". |
| Kang Chol was expelled and the Malaysian ambassador to North Korea was also recalled. | Kang Chol was expelled and the Malaysian ambassador to North Korea was also recalled. |
| Pyongyang then said it would ban all Malaysians in North Korea from leaving until the "situation was resolved", which Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak called an "abhorrent act" that effectively held his citizens hostage. | Pyongyang then said it would ban all Malaysians in North Korea from leaving until the "situation was resolved", which Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak called an "abhorrent act" that effectively held his citizens hostage. |
| Kuala Lumpur enacted a tit-for-tat exit ban on North Koreans. | Kuala Lumpur enacted a tit-for-tat exit ban on North Koreans. |
| How was it resolved? | How was it resolved? |
| Malaysian officials have not hesitated in branding the return of their citizens as a triumph of diplomatic deal-making. | Malaysian officials have not hesitated in branding the return of their citizens as a triumph of diplomatic deal-making. |
| On Friday morning Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told reporters: "There can be no substitute for diplomacy, for level-headedness in dealing with such situations, and this has served Malaysia well in this instance." | On Friday morning Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told reporters: "There can be no substitute for diplomacy, for level-headedness in dealing with such situations, and this has served Malaysia well in this instance." |
| But the exact circumstances of how the deal was struck remain unclear. | But the exact circumstances of how the deal was struck remain unclear. |
| Correspondents say that Malaysia appears to have acceded to North Korea's wishes to get the Malaysians released. | Correspondents say that Malaysia appears to have acceded to North Korea's wishes to get the Malaysians released. |
| Mr Najib had said earlier that, after challenging negotiations, all North Koreans would be allowed to leave Malaysia - which probably includes North Korean suspects in the murder who are wanted by Malaysian police. | Mr Najib had said earlier that, after challenging negotiations, all North Koreans would be allowed to leave Malaysia - which probably includes North Korean suspects in the murder who are wanted by Malaysian police. |
| Japanese news agency Kyodo said two men resembling two of the suspects were seen on a Beijing-bound flight transporting Mr Kim's body on Friday. | Japanese news agency Kyodo said two men resembling two of the suspects were seen on a Beijing-bound flight transporting Mr Kim's body on Friday. |
| The suspects are Hyon Kwang Song, the second secretary at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Kim Uk Il, an employee of North Korea's state airline Air Koryo. | |
| The two men were previously reported to have holed up in the embassy and refused to take part in investigations. | The two men were previously reported to have holed up in the embassy and refused to take part in investigations. |
| What's happened to the body? | What's happened to the body? |
| Mr Kim's body was released to North Korea and flown to Beijing, where North Korean officials are expected to receive it. | Mr Kim's body was released to North Korea and flown to Beijing, where North Korean officials are expected to receive it. |
| Malaysia had previously said they would not release the body until a request came from family members. | Malaysia had previously said they would not release the body until a request came from family members. |
| On Thursday, Mr Najib said a formal request had been received from the family, but did not give further details. It is not known who exactly requested for the body. | On Thursday, Mr Najib said a formal request had been received from the family, but did not give further details. It is not known who exactly requested for the body. |
| Mr Kim's own family previously lived in Macau but they are now thought to be in hiding. | Mr Kim's own family previously lived in Macau but they are now thought to be in hiding. |
| His son Kim Han-sol appeared in a video earlier this month confirming he was with his mother and sister at an unspecified location. | His son Kim Han-sol appeared in a video earlier this month confirming he was with his mother and sister at an unspecified location. |
| A delicate task - Jonathan Head, BBC News, South East Asia correspondent | A delicate task - Jonathan Head, BBC News, South East Asia correspondent |
| It was with barely disguised relief that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the deal with North Korea to release Kim Jong-nam's body, after what he described as "sensitive" negotiations posing many challenges. | It was with barely disguised relief that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the deal with North Korea to release Kim Jong-nam's body, after what he described as "sensitive" negotiations posing many challenges. |
| Dealing with a regime that, in Malaysia's view, was holding its citizens hostage and had carried out a lethal chemical weapons attack inside its main international gateway was a delicate task. | Dealing with a regime that, in Malaysia's view, was holding its citizens hostage and had carried out a lethal chemical weapons attack inside its main international gateway was a delicate task. |
| Malaysia appears to have given North Korea what it wanted - the body and the North Korean suspects sought by the Malaysian police - in order to get its nine citizens back safely. | Malaysia appears to have given North Korea what it wanted - the body and the North Korean suspects sought by the Malaysian police - in order to get its nine citizens back safely. |
| To that end, North Korea has refused to recognise that the body was that of its supreme leader's half-brother, or to cooperate in clarifying the role of its agents in the attack. | To that end, North Korea has refused to recognise that the body was that of its supreme leader's half-brother, or to cooperate in clarifying the role of its agents in the attack. |
| But by permitting a letter from an as-yet unnamed family member in North Korea to be forwarded to Malaysia, authorising the body's release, there is at least tacit acknowledgement from Pyongyang that the body is indeed Kim Jong-nam - something the Malaysian authorities say they have already confirmed through DNA samples obtained from his relatives outside North Korea. | But by permitting a letter from an as-yet unnamed family member in North Korea to be forwarded to Malaysia, authorising the body's release, there is at least tacit acknowledgement from Pyongyang that the body is indeed Kim Jong-nam - something the Malaysian authorities say they have already confirmed through DNA samples obtained from his relatives outside North Korea. |
| But with all the North Korean suspects in the attack now apparently out of Malaysia it is not clear how the investigation can move forward. | But with all the North Korean suspects in the attack now apparently out of Malaysia it is not clear how the investigation can move forward. |
| The two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, who smeared the nerve agent on Kim Jong-nam's face are in custody facing murder charges, but we do not know how much they have been able to tell the Malaysians. | The two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, who smeared the nerve agent on Kim Jong-nam's face are in custody facing murder charges, but we do not know how much they have been able to tell the Malaysians. |
| Nor do we know how much the Malaysian authorities have learned about that nerve agent. | Nor do we know how much the Malaysian authorities have learned about that nerve agent. |
| They believe it is VX, a substance so dangerous it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction, but it is not clear how much they have consulted with allies, or shared their findings with the international organisations that monitor chemical and biological weapons. | They believe it is VX, a substance so dangerous it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction, but it is not clear how much they have consulted with allies, or shared their findings with the international organisations that monitor chemical and biological weapons. |