Malaysia Says Embassy Staff Should Assist If Nothing to Hide

Malaysia Says Embassy Staff Should Assist If Nothing to Hide
Malaysian Police stand outside North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Feb. 23, 2017. AP Photo/Vincent Thian
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Malaysia’s police chief said Thursday investigators want to question a North Korean embassy official about the death of the exiled half brother of Pyongyang’s leader, saying he should cooperate if he has nothing to hide despite having diplomatic immunity.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said police have also asked Interpol to issue an alert for four North Korean men who left Malaysia the same day Kim Jong Nam was attacked by two women as he waited for a flight at the Kuala Lumpur airport on Feb 13.

The four men are believed to be back in North Korea, but police also want to question three other people still in Malaysia, including Hyon Kwang Song, a second secretary at the North Korean Embassy.

“The foreign officer has got immunity so we have to follow protocol,” Khalid told reporters. “If you have nothing to hide, you don’t have to be afraid. You should cooperate.”

Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar (L) and Selangor Police Chief Abdul Samah Mat during a press conference at the Bukit Aman national police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Feb. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Alexandra Radu)
Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar (L) and Selangor Police Chief Abdul Samah Mat during a press conference at the Bukit Aman national police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Feb. 22, 2017. AP Photo/Alexandra Radu