The odd death of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, has focused a spotlight on the secretive country. But that light isn't revealing much for journalists trying to investigate what happened.

"North Korea is possibly the most difficult place on earth to get information out of. The curtain is very tightly drawn at all times," says Saša Petricic.
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CBC's Asia correspondent has been reporting on Kim Jong-nam's death, and the subsequent murder investigation by Malaysian police, by pulling together information from other countries to try to figure out what happened, an unfamiliar experience for journalists accustomed to going to the heart of a story to report on it.

"You have to piece together these bits and pieces of information, and try to come up with a broader narrative," he says.

Petricic has been to South Korea, but that's as close as he got to the so-called "hermit kingdom," adding "the average North Korean probably knows very little, if anything, about this case," in spite of the fact it's been making headlines around the world.

While CBC journalists have been to North Korea in the past, those visits are tightly controlled and usually at the invitation of the ruling party when there's something it wants Western media to see — unlike now.

"They've been holding news conferences," Petricic says of North Korean authorities who've responded to the worldwide attention on the story. "But not inside the country, not in North Korea."

Kim died en route to hospital last month after being attacked by two women as he stood in line at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The incident was caught on overhead security cameras and appears to show the two women smearing Kim's mouth with a rag that Malaysian authorities believe was coated with deadly VX nerve agent, a banned chemical weapon.

The two women were this week charged with his murder, widely speculated to have been ordered by his estranged half-brother.

While Western news agencies such as the Associated Press or Agence France-Presse have bureaus in Pyongyang, their work is monitored and restricted by North Korea's communist government.

That's why journalist Suki Kim says she took the extraordinary risk of sneaking in.

In 2011, she got a job at a university, teaching the children of North Korea's elite families. But during her six months in the country, she was secretly taking notes for a book that she wrote when she left.

"I came out of there with about 400 pages of notes. And because my cover was a teacher, I could have a laptop with me, which I carried with me at all times. I wrote morning and night, and kept all the documents on USB sticks, and erased everything from computer every single time. I kept an SD card, where I had a backup copy — which I also hid."

Kim has little doubt what would have happened had she been found out.

"To actually write a book in there has never been done — because it's that scary. It's a country where they send people to gulags [prison camps] for, you know, carrying a Bible and passing it out," she says. "So I don't think that what I had done would have let me live, really. That's my guess. And that fear was there all the time. Every second.

"There was just no other way to tell the truth from inside North Korea."
• Inside North Korea's efforts to keep everyone out
• CBC IN NORTH KOREA | Kim Jong-un woos watchers at home and abroad</s>Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Why was North Korea's Kim Jong-nam killed?

Malaysia has expelled North Korea's ambassador after he criticised its investigation into the killing of the North Korean leader's half-brother.

Kang Chol must leave within 48 hours, Malaysia's foreign ministry says.

It demanded an apology after the envoy said North Korea could not trust Malaysia's handling of the inquiry, but says it did not receive one.

Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of Kim Jong-un, died three weeks ago at a Kuala Lumpur airport.

Malaysia has not directly blamed North Korea for the attack, in which two women smeared the nerve agent VX on Mr Kim's face. But there is widespread suspicion Pyongyang was responsible.

Mr Kang, who had become a fierce critic of his host country, said the inquiry into the killing had become "politicised" and was being interfered with.

The Malaysian Foreign Minister, Anifah Aman, declared the ambassador "persona non grata" and said his country had demanded an apology for the comments, but this was not forthcoming.

"Malaysia will react strongly against any insults made against it or any attempt to tarnish its reputation," Mr Anifah said in a statement.

The North Korean representative also failed to turn up for a meeting at the Malaysian foreign ministry on Saturday, he added.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption North Korea's ambassador was declared "persona non grata" by Malaysia

Malaysia is seeking to question several North Koreans, including an embassy official, over the death of Kim Jong-nam.

Two women, one from Vietnam and another from Indonesia, have been charged with murder. They both said they thought they were taking part in a TV prank but are yet to make a formal plea in their case.

The expulsion of the envoy also comes after the government announced an investigation into a company called Glocom, which has been operating in Malaysia for several years.

According to a confidential UN report, Glocom is run by North Korea's top intelligence agency to sell military communications equipment, in violation of UN sanctions.

Earlier on Saturday, a North Korean suspect questioned in connection with the case was released due to insufficient evidence.

Malaysia was one of very few countries that had relatively friendly relations with North Korea.

But it cancelled visa-free travel for visiting North Koreans in the wake of the killing, citing security reasons. It had already recalled its ambassador in Pyongyang as it investigated the case.

North Korea has not yet confirmed that the body is that of Kim Jong-nam, acknowledging him only as a North Korean citizen. Mr Kim was travelling using a passport under a different name.</s>Malaysia said on Saturday it has expelled the North Korean ambassador in a deepening diplomatic row over the assassination of the half-brother of Pyongyang’s leader at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. “The ambassador has been declared persona non grata,” Malaysia’s foreign ministry said in a statement, adding it had demanded but not received an apology over Pyongyang’s attack on its investigation of the case.

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“The expulsion of the DPRK (North Korea) Ambassador is… an indication of the government’s concern that Malaysia may have been used for illegal activities,” the statement added. Kim Jong-Nam, 45, was poisoned last month with VX, a nerve agent so deadly that it is classed as a weapon of mass destruction.

The dramatic killing at Kuala Lumpur airport prompted an international probe and lurid stories of North Korea’s Cold War-style tradecraft. South Korea has blamed the North for the murder, citing what they say was a standing order from leader Kim Jong-Un to kill his exiled half-brother who may have been seen as a potential rival.

North Korea, which has not acknowledged the dead man’s identity, has vehemently protested the investigation, saying Malaysia is in cahoots with its enemies. In response, Malaysia has cancelled a rare visa-free travel deal with North Korea — a key conduit to the outside world — and recalled its envoy to Pyongyang, putting the skids under once cozy ties.</s>A statement said that Ambassador Kang Chol failed to present himself at the ministry when summoned and was expected to leave Malaysia within 48 hours. (Photo: AP)

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has expelled North Korea's ambassador, giving him 48 hours to leave the country in a major break in diplomatic relations over the airport assassination of the half-brother of Pyongyang's leader.

Kim Jong-Nam was poisoned February 13 with deadly nerve agent VX. North Korea has not acknowledged the dead man's identity but has repeatedly disparaged the murder investigation, accusing Malaysia of conniving with its enemies.

"The ambassador has been declared persona non grata" after Malaysia demanded but did not receive an apology for Pyongyang's attacks on the investigation, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Anifah Haji Aman said.

"Malaysia will react strongly against any insults made against it or any attempt to tarnish its reputation," he said in a statement released late Saturday.

Ambassador Kang Chol failed to present himself at the ministry when summoned and "is expected to leave Malaysia within 48 hours," the statement added. The expulsion deadline expires 6pm on Monday.

Arch-rival South Korea has blamed the North for the murder, citing what they say was a standing order from leader Kim Jong-Un to kill his exiled half-brother who may have been seen as a potential rival.

The foreign ministry said the expulsion is "part of the process by the Malaysian government to review its relations" with North Korea, which before Kim's assassination were unusually cosy.

"North Korea must learn to respect other countries," Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Sunday.

The expulsion shows "we are serious about solving this problem and we do not want it to be manipulated," he added.

On Sunday evening, a senior government official who did not want to be named said Kang was still in the country and was expected to leave on a flight to Beijing on Monday.

The diplomatic spat erupted in February, when Malaysian police rejected North Korean diplomats' demands to hand over Kim's body.

Kang then claimed the investigation was politically motivated and said Kuala Lumpur was conspiring with "hostile forces".

Malaysia summoned Kang for a dressing-down, with Prime Minister Najib Razak saying the ambassador's statement was "diplomatically rude".

Malaysia issued a February 28 deadline for an apology, but "no such apology has been made, neither has there been any indication that one is forthcoming."

Malaysia has also recalled its envoy to Pyongyang and cancelled a rare visa-free travel deal with North Korea.

Police are seeking seven North Korean suspects in their probe but on Friday released the only North Korean arrested for lack of evidence.

After Ri Jong-Chol was deported, he claimed police offered him a comfortable life in Malaysia for a false confession, saying the investigation was "a conspiracy to impair the dignity of the Republic (North Korea)".

Two women -- one Vietnamese and one Indonesian -- have been charged with murdering Kim Jong-Nam, with airport CCTV footage showing them approaching the heavyset 45-year-old and apparently smearing his face with a cloth.

Police say he suffered a seizure and died less than 20 minutes later. Swabs of the dead man's face revealed traces of VX nerve agent.

North Korea had few friends even before the assassination, but the fallout from the killing looks set to further isolate the nuclear-armed state.

Malaysia formally established diplomatic relations with North Korea in 1973 and opened an embassy in Pyongyang in 2003.

It has provided a conduit between Pyongyang and the wider world in recent years, with Kuala Lumpur serving as a discreet meeting place for talks between the regime and the United States.

A recently released report by a UN Panel of Experts reviewing compliance with sanctions against Pyongyang identified a front company run by North Korean intelligence out of Malaysia, selling military communications equipment to Eritrea, with suppliers in China and an office in Singapore.

Up to 1,000 North Koreans currently work in Malaysia and their remittances are a valuable source of foreign currency for the isolated regime.

North Korea imports refined oil, natural rubber and palm oil from Malaysia, which buys electrical and electronic items, chemicals as well as iron and steel products from North Korea.

Last week Malaysia's trade minister Mustapa Mohamed said the spat would have no impact on Kuala Lumpur as trade with the reclusive country is "insignificant".</s>The foreign ministry said the expulsion is ‘part of the process by the Malaysian government to review its relations’ with North Korea.

Kang claimed Malaysia's investigation was politically motivated and said Kuala Lumpur was conspiring with 'hostile forces'. (Photo: AP)

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has expelled North Korea's ambassador, giving him 48 hours to leave the country in a major break in diplomatic relations over the airport assassination of the half-brother of Pyongyang's leader.

Kim Jong-Nam was poisoned February 13 with deadly nerve agent VX. North Korea has not acknowledged the dead man's identity but has repeatedly disparaged the murder investigation, accusing Malaysia of conniving with its enemies.

"The ambassador has been declared persona non grata" after Malaysia demanded but did not receive an apology for Pyongyang's attacks on the investigation, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Anifah Haji Aman said.

"Malaysia will react strongly against any insults made against it or any attempt to tarnish its reputation," he said in a statement released late Saturday.

Ambassador Kang Chol failed to present himself at the ministry when summoned and "is expected to leave Malaysia within 48 hours," the statement added. The expulsion deadline expires 6pm on Monday.

Arch-rival South Korea has blamed the North for the murder, citing what they say was a standing order from leader Kim Jong-Un to kill his exiled half-brother who may have been seen as a potential rival.

The foreign ministry said the expulsion is "part of the process by the Malaysian government to review its relations" with North Korea, which before Kim's assassination were unusually cosy.

"North Korea must learn to respect other countries," Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Sunday.

The expulsion shows "we are serious about solving this problem and we do not want it to be manipulated," he added.

On Sunday evening, a senior government official who did not want to be named said Kang was still in the country and was expected to leave on a flight to Beijing on Monday.

The diplomatic spat erupted in February when Malaysian police rejected North Korean diplomats' demands to hand over Kim's body.

Kang then claimed the investigation was politically motivated and said Kuala Lumpur was conspiring with "hostile forces".

Malaysia summoned Kang for a dressing-down, with Prime Minister Najib Razak saying the ambassador's statement was "diplomatically rude".

Malaysia issued a February 28 deadline for an apology, but "no such apology has been made, neither has there been any indication that one is forthcoming."

Malaysia has also recalled its envoy to Pyongyang and cancelled a rare visa-free travel deal with North Korea.

Police are seeking seven North Korean suspects in their probe but on Friday released the only North Korean arrested for lack of evidence.

After Ri Jong-Chol was deported, he claimed police offered him a comfortable life in Malaysia for a false confession, saying the investigation was "a conspiracy to impair the dignity of the Republic (North Korea)".

Two women -- one Vietnamese and one Indonesian -- have been charged with murdering Kim Jong-Nam, with airport CCTV footage showing them approaching the heavyset 45-year-old and apparently smearing his face with a cloth.

Police say he suffered a seizure and died less than 20 minutes later. Swabs of the dead man's face revealed traces of VX nerve agent.

North Korea had few friends even before the assassination, but the fallout from the killing looks set to further isolate the nuclear-armed state.

Malaysia formally established diplomatic relations with North Korea in 1973 and opened an embassy in Pyongyang in 2003.

It has provided a conduit between Pyongyang and the wider world in recent years, with Kuala Lumpur serving as a discreet meeting place for talks between the regime and the United States.

A recently released report by a UN Panel of Experts reviewing compliance with sanctions against Pyongyang identified a front company run by North Korean intelligence out of Malaysia, selling military communications equipment to Eritrea, with suppliers in China and an office in Singapore.

Up to 1,000 North Koreans currently work in Malaysia and their remittances are a valuable source of foreign currency for the isolated regime.

North Korea imports refined oil, natural rubber and palm oil from Malaysia, which buys electrical and electronic items, chemicals as well as iron and steel products from North Korea.

Last week Malaysia's trade minister Mustapa Mohamed said the spat would have no impact on Kuala Lumpur as trade with the reclusive country is "insignificant".</s>North Korea should learn to respect the sovereign rights of other nations, Malaysia said hours after expelling Pyongyang's ambassador to Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's deputy prime minister said that the expulsion of the North Korean envoy was meant to send a strong message to Kim Jong-un's regime.

Speaking on Sunday (5 March), a day after the North Korean ambassador was given 48 hours to leave Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the home minister, warned Pyongyang not to manipulate the ongoing investigation of Kim Jong-nam's murder.

"The statements by the ambassador were obviously aimed at manipulating the matter. We have been professional in our probe in terms of interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence, whether it was DNA samples or CCTV footage," said the deputy prime minister.

In a strong diplomatic rebuke, Malaysia had earlier ordered North Korean ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, to leave the country declaring him "persona non grata". Malaysia said the stern decision was taken after he failed to appear despite being summoned several times.

"They have to respect our diplomatic ties... This is not just about North Korean citizens... We have to look into the interests of international citizens. There are other friendly states that are facing issues with North Korea too. As international citizens, we must cooperate with each other and not manipulate an issue," Zahid told reporters.

Malaysia had demanded a written apology from the North Korean ambassador for his accusations against Kuala Lumpur relating to investigations into the death of Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The envoy had accused Malaysia of cooking up North Korea's involvement in the murder joining hands with rival South Korea. The comments have seriously angered Malaysia leading to a diplomatic rift.</s>Malaysia has declared North Korea’s ambassador Kang Chol “persona non grata” and expelled after saying “foreign forces” colluded in the murder of the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mr Kang, who said Pyongyang “cannot trust” Malaysia’s handling of the investigation, has been asked to leave Malaysia within 48 hours, the latest escalation in the diplomatic row between the two countries.

Kim Jong-am, the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong-un, was killed on February 13th at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, after two women allegedly smeared his face with the deadly VX nerve agent.

The two women, Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam and Siti Aisyah from Indonesia, were formally charged with murder last week. They both said they thought they were taking part in a TV prank.

Mr Kang had been fiercely critical of Malaysia and accused his host country of coming under the influence of “foreign powers”, a veiled reference to North Korea’s bitter rivals, South Korea.

“It should be recalled that the ambassador has alleged that the conduct of the investigation into the death of a North Korean citizen on February 13th indicates that the Malaysian government had something to hide and that it colluded with outside powers to defame his country,” foreign minister Anifah Haji Aman said.

He said the release of North Korean national Ri Jong-chol due to lack of evidence was proof that the investigation was carried out in an impartial, fair and transparent manner, and Malaysia had demanded an apology from the ambassador, but none was forthcoming.

Malaysian police are seeking several North Koreans, including the second secretary at the embassy, over the death of Kim Jong-nam.

“Malaysia will react strongly against any insults made against it or any attempt to tarnish its reputation.”

Malaysian primemMinister Najib Razak had previously described the comments as “diplomatically rude” and last week Malaysia cancelled visa-free entry for North Koreans entering the country from March 6th.

Malaysia has been one of the few countries friendly to North Korea in the region.

En route back to Pyongyang on Saturday, Ri Jong-chol the deported North Korean, said he and his family had been threatened by Malaysian police to make a confession.

“These men kept telling me to admit to the crime, and if not, my whole family would be killed, and you too won’t be safe. If you accept everything, you can live a good life in Malaysia,” Mr Ri told reporters at Beijing airport on the way back to Pyongyang. “They were plotting to tarnish my country’s reputation.”

Kim Jong-nam was travelling using a diplomatic passport under the name Kim Chol. Pyongyang has not yet confirmed that the body is that of Kim Jong-nam, acknowledging him only as a North Korean citizen.</s>Malaysia has expelled the North Korean ambassador to the country, declaring him "persona non grata" and asking the diplomat to leave Malaysia within 48 hours.

The move on Saturday comes nearly three weeks after Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was murdered at Kuala Lumpur's airport with a toxic nerve agent.

US and South Korean officials have said he was killed by agents of the North Korean regime.

Kang Chol, North Korea's ambassador to Malaysia, said last month his country "cannot trust" Malaysia's handling of the probe, and also accused the country of "colluding with outside forces" in a veiled reference to bitter rival South Korea.</s>The Malaysian government has expelled North Korea's ambassador after he criticised the investigation into the killing of Kim Jong Nam, the half brother of leader Kim Jong Un.

In a statement Malyasia's foreign minister Anifah Aman said a notice was sent to the North Korean Embassy on Saturday informing it that ambassador Kang Chol must leave the country within 48 hours.

He said that earlier in the week, Malaysia demanded North Korea apologise for criticising the investigation into the killing of Kim at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13.

Aman said no apology had come and none appears forthcoming, so Malaysia has decided to expel the ambassador.

Kang had said Malaysia may be "trying to conceal something" and that the autopsy on Kim was carried out "unilaterally and excluding our attendance".</s>Malaysia has ordered the North Korean envoy out of the country following the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. Malaysia said on Saturday it was expelling the North Korean ambassador, escalating a diplomatic row between the two countries over the murder of the estranged half-brother of North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un.

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Malaysia expels Kang Chol, North Korea's ambassador, after he criticised the former's investigation into the death of Kim Jong-nam.