Pyongyang has sent a high-level delegation to Malaysia seeking the body of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was killed on Feb 13 at KLIA2.

Ri Ton-il, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations who was among the diplomats sent to Kuala Lumpur, said the purpose of his visit was "to discuss the return the body of the deceased DPRK citizen who died in Malaysia".

In addition, he said the delegation would also seek the release of a North Korean citizen who is being detained in relations to the murder, and seek to develop friendly relations between North Korea and Malaysia.

"The purpose of the visit is to settle a humanitarian issue.

"During the stay of the delegation of the DPRK, it will discuss the related issues with relevant government officials of Malaysia," said Ri during a press conference today outside the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Ri is the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations.

The Malaysian police had arrested one Indonesian woman, one Vietnamese woman, one Malaysian man, and one North Korean man over the murder.

The Malaysian suspect has since been released, while the two women are expected to be charged with murder tomorrow. The North Korean detainee is still in police custody.

Another four North Korean suspects are still being sought by the police and are believed to be in Pyongyang. The police are also seeking to question a North Korean embassy official and one Air Koryo official over the murder.

The deceased is identified only as "Kim Chol" by this travel documents.

The high-profile murder had soured relations between Malaysian and North Korea, after the latter's ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol repeatedly expressed distrust towards the Malaysian investigation.

Meanwhile, when asked about the high level delegation and if this means that Malaysia is cooperating with North Korea, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said that he has no knowledge of the matter.

"I don't know. I only read about it in the papers," he said.

He said that the ministry would follow established guidelines in releasing the body of Jong-nam

"As far as the releasing of the body is concerned, we will follow standard operating procedures, in that we need definite identity of the person, and the body will be released to the next of kin.

"That is the protocol that the we at the Ministry of of Health follow, unless the police tells us to do otherwise," he added.