The Star reported that when asked if Putrajaya might consider trading Jong Nam’s body for the safe return of the Malaysians, Zahid said: “We are looking into all possibilities.”
Zahid said formal talks at the secretary-general level began on Monday for the release of the Malaysians.
“We are working thoroughly to get them out of Pyongyang,” he added.
Zahid, who is also home minister, said this after launching new VIP facilities at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
He had told reporters outside Parliament on Tuesday that the body of Jong Nam, who is believed to have been killed by North Korean-led operatives, had been embalmed so that it could be preserved longer.
The murder, and Malaysia’s attempt to investigate three North Koreans who are believed to be holed up at Pyongyang’s embassy here, has sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries.
North Korea is preventing three Malaysian diplomats and their six family members from leaving the country. Malaysia responded to this by saying that North Koreans in the country would not be allowed to return home either.
The Star reported that Zahid scoffed at North Korea’s suggestion that the body was not that of Jong Nam, the half-brother of the country’s leader Kim Jong Un.
“The Inspector-General of Police (Khalid Abu Bakar) has confirmed that it is Kim Jong Nam, based on DNA samples provided by a child of the deceased. Forensics and DNA procedures have been followed. I would like to officially state that the body is definitely that of Kim Jong Nam,” he was quoted as saying.
Zahid did not give details about how or when the DNA sample from the child was collected. Khalid, too, had earlier declined to give details on the matter.
Reports say Jong Nam had two sons and a daughter with two women believed to be living in Beijing and Macau.
The deputy prime minister said Putrajaya had no objections to an international inquiry into the murder of Jong Nam at klia2 on Feb 13.