N. Korea, Malaysia Disagree over Kim's Death

 

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak said his government's investigation¹ of the killing² Kim Jong Nam will be "objective."

Kim Jong Nam was the half-brother of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.

"We have no reason why we want to do something to paint North Korea in a bad light, but we will be objective," Najib told reporters on Monday in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Japanese broadcaster Fuji TV released video footage that appears to show Kim Jong Nam being attacked in Kuala Lumpur International airport last week. Two women, believed to be North Korean agents, participated in the attack; one of them appeared to put poison on Kim Jong Nam's face.

Officials have not confirmed this footage.

Tensions rise between Malaysia and North Korea

Tensions have been rising between Malaysia and North Korea in the week following the killing.

Early on Monday, Malaysia recalled its representative in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. Malaysia's foreign ministry³ said it had recalled its representative "for consultations⁵."

The North Korean ambassador in Kuala Lumpur raised doubts about Malaysia's impartiality⁶. He said the man killed in Kuala Lumpur's airport was not Kim Jong Nam.

North Korean officials have tried to prevent Malaysia from doing an autopsy⁷. An autopsy is an examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death. Instead, North Korean officials have insisted that Malaysian authorities release the body to them.

Malaysian authorities have said they will release the body to Kim Jong Nam's son, Kim Han Sol.

Malaysian police said they were hunting for four North Koreans who fled the country the day of the attack. They have already detained several other suspects.

Implications and consequences of the attack

Malaysia is one of the few countries that maintain ties with North Korea, and this dispute could further isolate⁸ the country.

Following the news of Kim Jong Nam's death, South Korea convened⁹ a meeting of its National Security Council.

South Korea's Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn was nearly certain that North Korea was behind the killing.

"The North Korean regime's terrorism tactics are getting bolder so we must be more vigilant," Hwang said.

Kim Jong Nam had been living in Macau under Chinese protection.

On Saturday, China announced that it had suspended all coal imports from North Korea, a vital source of revenue for the country.

Words in This Story

objective – adj. based on facts rather than feelings or opinions

to paint (someone ) in a bad light – idiom to do something in a way that makes someone or something look bad

consultation⁴ – n. a meeting in which someone (such as a doctor or lawyer) talks to a person about a problem, question, etc.

impartiality – n. treating all people and groups equally

autopsy – n. an examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death

isolate – v. to put or keep (someone or something) in a place or situation that is separate from others

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

5 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 impartiality   

n. 公平, 无私, 不偏

参考例句：

• He shows impartiality and detachment. 他表现得不偏不倚，超然事外。
• Impartiality is essential to a judge. 公平是当法官所必需的。

7 autopsy   

n.尸体解剖；尸检

参考例句：

• They're carrying out an autopsy on the victim.他们正在给受害者验尸。
• A hemorrhagic gut was the predominant lesion at autopsy.尸检的主要发现是肠出血。

8 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。

9 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。