The police have issued a warrant of arrest for an employee of the North Korean airline Air Koryo to assist in the investigation into the murder of a North Korean in Malaysia on Feb 13.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, in a WhatsApp message to Bernama, said the warrant was issued against Kim Uk-il, 37, to assist in the probe into the killing of Kim Chol.

It has been established that Kim Chol was actually Kim Jong Nam, the estranged elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Khalid said the police had also sent a request through the Foreign Ministry seeking the cooperation of Hyon Kwang-song, second secretary at the North Korean embassy here, to assist in the investigation as well.

Replying to a question, he said the letter sent via Wisma Putra had been delivered to the embassy.