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| Kim Jong-Nam (Image: Flickr User - Conecta Abogados) |
KUALA LUMPUR/MANILA (Kyodo) -- Japan provided Malaysia with fingerprint data of the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the investigation into his apparent murder last month at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, sources close to the matter said Sunday.
The data was obtained from Kim Jong Nam when the Japanese government detained him back in 2001 at Narita international airport outside Tokyo for trying to enter the country on a false passport. He told Japanese authorities at the time that he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.
The disclosure marks the first time that Japan's assistance has come to light in the investigation into the fatal poison attack, which is widely believed to have been orchestrated by North Korea.
The United States and other countries are also believed to have been involved in the probe or lent a hand in the protection of family members fearful they might be targeted next by the regime.
The identity of the deceased has been among the contentious issues between Malaysia and North Korea, whose once-cozy ties have sharply deteriorated in the wake of the incident.
Read the full story at The Mainichi