PUTRAJAYA: The atmosphere is tense in Wisma Putra as North Korean ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, arrived here this morning after being summoned by Wisma Putra, following his criticism on Malaysia for refusing to release the body of Kim Jong-nam.
Kang Chol met with the Deputy Secretary General for Bilateral Affairs, Raja Nurshirwan Zainal Abidin and the Undersecretary (SUB) of East Asia, Datuk Ganeson Sivagurunathan, an expert in North Korean affairs.
According to sources, the meeting was held in full secrecy and is expected to last an hour.
"We are naturally upset by his (Kang Chol's) statement on the killing of Kim Jong-nam," the source told NST Online.
"It is a murder case. He has to respect our criminal procedures. Only Jong-nam's family can claim his body. The North Korean embassy must get a letter of consent from Jong-nam's family before they can claim his body."
Wisma Putra has also recalled Malaysian ambassador in Pyongyang, Mohamad Nizan Mohamad, to Kuala Lumpur for consultations.
A car bearing diplomatic plates, belonging to the North Korean embassy, was spotted arriving at Wisma Putra at 9.55am.
Reporters approached the vehicle, but were ignored by its occupants.
Kang Chol was reported saying he had demanded the release of the body without delay and claimed the embassy's request was rejected despite submitting official documents to the Foreign Ministry.
He even suggested that Malaysia was trying to conceal something and collude with hostile forces against North Korea.
More than 40 media reporters and photographers including the foreign press had gathered as early as 8am at Wisma Putra to obtain the latest developments on the case.