SHAH ALAM (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Kim Jong Nam's family has given permission to the Malaysian government to manage his remains, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim said on Thursday (March 16).

"For now, the family have given permission to our government to manage the body," he told a press conference after launching a seminar at Kelab Shah Alam.

Noor Rashid, however, declined to elaborate on where and when discussions with Kim's family took place.

The authorities have yet to decide on further action on the body, he said.

He was commenting on whether Kim's family had sought to claim his remains following the revelation that a family member had handed over DNA samples for the identification of his body.

"As of now, the body has been handed over to the Health Ministry," said Noor Rashid.

"Any further action will be the Federal Government's prerogative."

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed on Wednesday Kim's body had been identified based on DNA samples provided by a child of the deceased.

The body had been embalmed as no next of kin had stepped forward to claim it a month after the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was murdered on Feb 13.

Kim was travelling with a diplomatic passport under the name of Kim Chol when he was attacked by the two women at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport before he could board his flight.

North Korea has rejected Malaysia's findings and insisted that the dead man was not Kim, who had been estranged from his brother, Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un.

Bilateral relations between the countries have since turned sour, with Pyongyang barring Malaysians from leaving North Korea and the Malaysian government reciprocating the move.

Nine Malaysians, made up of embassy staff and their families, are still in Pyongyang.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said the Government had not ruled out the possibility of handing over Kim's body to North Korea in exchange for nine Malaysians held there.