North Korea demands end to Kim Jong-nam death investigation

Malaysia has been accused by North Korea of behaving in a "sinister" way after opening an investigation into the assassination of leader Kim Jong-un's brother, Kim Jong-nam.

South Korea claimed that agents sanctioned by Pyongyang were involved in the murder Jong-nam, who was attacked in Kuala Lumpur Airport last week.

The state-run news agency KCNA reported that Malaysia had broken international law by withholding the body from North Korean authorities.

"This proves that the Malaysian side is going to politicise the transfer of the body in utter disregard of international law and morality and thus attain a sinister purpose," it said.

"The biggest responsibility for his death rests with the government of Malaysia," KCNA added.

Kim Jong-un's half brother had been considered to succeed Kim Jong-il, the previous leader of the 'hermit Kingdom', but was allegedly ruled out for expressing sentiments relating to the liberalisation of the country.

Police in Malaysia have identified as many as eight North Korean citizens who were in the country at the time that they want to question, four of which are thought to have fled the region.

Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and North Korea have worsened in the last week following the death of Jong-nam, with the former's investigators demanding permission to question a senior diplomat from the latter.

The KCNA report suggested that Malaysia and South Korea had worked together in order to accelerate a campaign against north Korea.

"What merits more serious attention is the fact that the unjust acts of the Malaysian side are timed to coincide with the anti-DPRK conspiratorial racket launched by the South Korean authorities," KCNA said.