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Two North Koreans suspected of plotting to murder Kim Jong-nam are “hiding” in their embassy in Malaysia amid a furious war of words between the two countries.

The news came as it emerged there was an attempted break in at the morgue where Jong-nam’s body was being held

Hyon Kwang Song, a senior diplomat, is believed to be holed up in their building in the west of the capital Kuala Lumpur. He is wanted for questioning along with two of his countrymen in connection with the assassination of tyrant Kim Jong-un ’s brother.

North Korea claim the murder inquiry has been influenced by their arch rivals South Korea.

Their embassy officials today called for Doan Thi Huong, 28, and Siti Aishah, 25, the two women accused of wiping toxins on Jong-nam’s face, to be freed, saying they could not have used the poison without killing themselves.

“It has been 10 days since the incident happened,” they added. “But police have found no evidence from the arrested suspects.”

(Image: REUTERS)

Detectives denied their claims, and increased security at the mortuary where Jong-nam’s remains are held due to an attempted break in.

Hyon Kwang Song allegedly masterminded the assassination plot. His fellow suspect, Kim Uk Il, 37, also said to be holed up in the embassy, is employed by Air Koryo, North Korea’s state-run airline.

He is being linked to the four North Korean suspects who watched the assassination being carried out - then flew back to Pyongjang.

Khalid Abu Bakar, Malaysia’s inspector general of police, said: “We will issue a warrant of arrest if the North Korean side does not hand over the two suspects.”

Ri Ji U, another North Korean suspect, is still in Malaysia, but not inside the embassy. Ri Jong Chol, who was arrested on Friday, lived in the country for more than three years without working at the company registered on his employment permit or receiving a salary.

(Image: Getty)

The two women seen on aiport CCTV are believed to have carried out the fatal assault using a fast-acting poison. They were trained to wipe toxin on Jong nam’s face, then wash their hands. “They knew the substance was toxic,” Khalid said. “We don’t know what chemical was used.”

He confirmed an attempted break in at the morgue this week. Malaysia denied a North Korea request for Jong-nam’s body. Their embassy officials accused police of being “unreasonable” in holding suspects Thi Huong, 28, Aishah, 25, and Jong Chol, 37.

“Malaysia has been conducting the investigation based on CCTV released to the public, and the delusion that the female suspects had daubed poison on the victim’s face with their own hands,” they said.

“Then how is it possible that these female suspects could be alive after the incident? This means that the liquid they daubed for a joke is not a poison and that there is another cause of death for the deceased.

(Image: AFP)

“They should immediately release the innocent women, as well as North Korean citizen Ri Jong Chol, who were arrested unreasonably.”

Jong-nam, 46, was attacked at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport while waiting to board a flight to Macau just after 8am on Feb 13.

He was approached by two women, one of whom grabbed him from behind and wiped his face with an apparently poisonous liquid.

Police say the two women carried out ‘practice runs’ at shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur before carrying out the act. The cause of his death has yet to be confirmed, and no family member has come forward to provide DNA for his body to be returned.