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A newspaper report on the indictment of a female suspect in the killing of Kim Jong-nam

Malaysia plans to end its visa waiver agreement with North Korea amid conflicts between the two countries over the assassination of Kim Jong-un’s half-brother Kim Jong-nam, 46.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the Malaysian government had decided to terminate the visa waiver agreement with North Korea for purposes of national security, Malaysia’s state-run Bernama news agency reported on Mar. 2.

The agreement’s termination goes into effect as of Mar. 6. Malaysia and North Korea, which established diplomatic relations in 1973, signed a visa waiver agreement in 2009.

Malaysia’s measure is expected to deal a significant blow to North Korea. The roughly 1,000 North Koreans living in Malaysia are currently able to establish businesses and use international financial systems there.

Meanwhile, Malaysian prosecutors plan to release and deport Ri Jong-chol, 47, who was arrested in connection with Kim’s death. Malaysian Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali announced that there was “not sufficient evidence to indict him.”

Malaysian public health authorities have refused Pyongyang’s requests to turn over Kim’s corpse and announced plans to release the body to his family members.

Former North Korean deputy UN ambassador Ri Tong-il, who is part of a delegation visiting Malaysia from Pyongyang, held a press conference to demand that the body be turned over to North Korea.

“There is strong evidence for viewing a heart attack as the cause of death,” Ri asserted. Malaysia concluded that Kim had died from exposure to VX, a toxic nerve agent.

By Hwang Sang-cheol, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]