Hanoi (VNA)– Chinese and Malaysia authorities said on March 31 that the body of theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) citizen with passport name of KimChol, who was assassinated in Malaysia, and related persons arrived in theirhome country from Kuala Lumpur via Beijing.
China offered necessary assistance to the transitof the body, said Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Lu Kang, adding that itwas a humanitarian act and in line with international practice.
There were tensions in relations betweenMalaysia and the DPRK after the assassination of the DPRK citizen on February12 in Malaysia.
Malaysia believed the man died of poisoningwhile the DPRK affirmed he died of a heart attack, diabetes and high bloodpressure. The DPRK has many times accused Malaysia of issuing inimicalconclusions and confirmed it does not accept Kuala Lumpur’s investigationresults.
They also expelled each other's ambassadors andbarred their citizens from leaving since early March.
However, according to a deal reached by thesides on March 30, Malaysia agreed to transfer the body of the deceased to hisfamily after the DPRK produced all the required documents. Meanwhile, nineMalaysian citizens held in Pyongyang returned to Malaysia on March 31.-VNA