Court hears four fled after Kim killed

A police officer has testified at the trial of two women accused of killing the half brother of North Korea's leader that four suspects at large believed to have plotted with the women were North Koreans who fled Malaysia immediately after the assassination.

Police investigating officer Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz also said an employee from North Korea's state-owned carrier, Air Koryo, arranged flight tickets for the four men so they could depart after the attack on Kim Jong Nam was carried out in a crowded budget terminal of the Kuala Lumpur airport last February13.

Wan Azirul, who earlier identified the four only as Mr Y, Mr Chang, Hanamori and James, revealed their full identifies as the trial entered a second month.

The two young women - Siti Aisyah of Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam, who are accused of smearing VX nerve agent onto Kim's face - are the only suspects detained in the brazen assassination of Kim, an outcast from North Korea's ruling family who lived abroad in virtual exile for years.

Both women pleaded not guilty at the start of their trial on October 2 to murder charges that carry mandatory death sentences if they are convicted.

Wan Azirul testified on Monday that Hanamori, whom he earlier identified as the mastermind of the attack, is Ri Jae Nam, 57, and that Mr Chang, who was seen in airport security video with Aisyah before the killing, is Hong Song Hak, 34.

Mr Y, seen in the video with Huong, is Ri Ji Hyon, 33, and the fourth suspect, James, is O Jong Gil, 54, Wan Azirul said.

Earlier in the trial, the court was shown airport security video of the four suspects at large.

On Monday, Wan Azirul pointed out in the video a North Korean Embassy official and the Air Koryo employee meeting with the four men before they left.

The two women's defense lawyers have said Huong and Aisyah were duped by suspected North Korean agents into believing they were playing a harmless prank for a TV show.