NORTH Korean diplomat Pak Myong Ho blamed a “despicable and extremely dangerous” plot by the US and South Korea yesterday for the killing of Kim Jong Nam in Malaysia.

Mr Pak declared in Beijing, where he is based, that “indiscriminate claims of behindthe-scenes manipulation” would fail, referring to South Korean allegations that Pyongyang had masterminded the assassination of North Korean dynastic leader Kim Jong Un’s estranged brother.

Malaysian police have confirmed Mr Kim’s identity after using DNA from his son that was obtained overseas and flown to Kuala Lumpur.

North Korea had previously refused to acknowledge the victim as its leader’s brother, referring to him as Kim Chol, the name in his diplomatic passport.

Despite this, it demanded that Malaysia hand over the body and objected to an autopsy being held.

Malaysian officials said yesterday that the family of Kim Jong Nam had consented to Kuala Lumpur deciding what to do with his body.