China confirms return of Kim Jong-nam's body

China on Friday confirmed that the body of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of the North Korean leader, was flown back to Pyongyang from Kuala Lumpur via Beijing on Friday, following authorisation from Malaysia.

"The body of the North Korean citizen killed in Malaysia has returned today (Friday) via Beijing," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang at a press conference, without explicitly mentioning the name of Kim Jong-nam, the older brother of Kim Jong-un.

Lu added that two other North Korean citizens - suspected by Malaysia of involvement in Kim Jong-nam's killing - also flew from the Malaysian capital to Pyongyang, but did not disclose details of their identity, Efe news reported.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a statement on Thursday that following completion of the autopsy, and upon request by the victim's family, Kim Jong-nam's remains would be returned to North Korea.

Pyongyang also confirmed the return of nine Malaysians it had detained since February.

--IANS

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