Thieves try to steal body of Kim Jong Nam in mortuary break-in

An intruder has attempted snatch the body of the murdered half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to reports.

Kim Jong Nam was attacked at the busy Kuala Lumpur International Airport last week when trying to board a plane to Macau.

Two women – one of them Indonesian, the other Vietnamese – are suspected of fatally poisoning him by smearing toxic chemicals across his face, Malaysian police have said.

A heavily armed special police force has reportedly been deployed at the morgue holding Mr Kim’s body after police said there had been an attempt to gain access to the facility.

According to The Times North Korea is thought to be behind the break-in.

Police inspector general Khalid Abu Bakar said: “We knew there were attempts by someone to break into the hospital mortuary.

“We know who they are. There is no need for me to tell you.”

Malaysian police have not directly blamed the North Korean state on the murder, but have said North Koreans were clearly behind it.

They are seeking several North Koreans in connection with his death, including a senior official at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur as well as an employee of the state airline, Air Koryo.

Four other North Koreans named earlier in the case are thought to have left Malaysia already, while another North Korean is in detention.