N Korea employs old tactic after assassination

Many still remember the regime’s behaviour after committing mass killings in a 1983 bomb attack on a South Korean presidential entourage in Myanmar or 1987’s midair bombing of a South Korean passenger plane. 
Nevertheless, its response to the killing of Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia is outrageous. 
As usual, North Korean media are keeping mum on the assassination of the half brother of its ruler Kim Jong-un. 
However, with evidence building of North Koreans’ involvement in the killing, the country is turning to its typical response of denial and nonsensical claims. 
North Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, is now Pyongyang’s point-man for the campaign of deception and irrational claims. Kang said last week that North Korea will not accept the result of the autopsy conducted by Malaysian authorities because it had been done without the presence of North Korean officials. Kim was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by what is believed to be a poisonous liquid sprayed on his face by a Vietnamese woman and an Indonesian woman. Kang also demanded that Malaysia hand over his body to the embassy.
Malaysian authorities rightfully ignored the demands and announced that five North Koreans, including one who had been a registered foreign resident in the country, were involved in the attack. The four others had entered Malaysia separately and fled on the day of the attack through the same airport. Malaysian police said they believed all four had returned to Pyongyang via third countries.
Such developments prompted Kang to argue that the investigation by the Malaysian police was “politically motivated” and could not be trusted. The ambassador demanded a joint investigation be launched with the North Korean government. This is an example of the North’s usual tactic of shunning responsibility and shifting the blame to others. 
So far, it seems the Malaysian government is dealing with the case properly. Yesterday, Malaysian police identified two more North Korean suspects – one a second secretary in the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the other an official of the North’s national flag carrier Air Koryo. This only adds to the suspicion that North Korea was behind the assassination. 
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry also did well to call in Ambassador Kang after he disputed actions taken by the Malaysian authorities. It also recalled its ambassador from North Korea, a sign that Kuala Lumpur will deal sternly with the case. 
Prime Minister Najib Razak made it clear that his government would not be swayed by the North’s “bullying and pressure”. He said the probe was being conducted in an objective manner and that Malaysia does not have any reason to intentionally “paint the North Koreans in a bad light”. Najib also urged North Korea to cooperate with the investigation. 
Malaysia’s police chief said at a news conference yesterday that they had asked the North Korean Embassy’s permission to interview the second secretary and the Air Koryo staffer – both of whom are believed to be staying in the country – and provide DNA samples from Kim’s family members. 
But securing such cooperation from the North Korean Embassy will not be easy, considering what the country has done in the past. 
The 1983 bombing in Myanmar is a good example: North Korea denied it masterminded the attack targeting then-South Korean president Chun Doo-hwan and Myanmar promptly cut off diplomatic relations with Pyongyang. 
Malaysia may run the same risk of its relations with the North turning icy, but it should do what it has to do as a responsible member of the international community. South Korea and other countries will stand behind such efforts.