KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Tuesday (Feb 21) that comments by the North Korean ambassador casting doubt over a Malaysian investigation into the killing of the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader were "diplomatically rude".

"The statement by the ambassador was totally uncalled for. It was diplomatically rude. But Malaysia will stand firm," Datuk Seri Najib told reporters.

North Korean ambassador Kang Chol said his country "cannot trust" Malaysia's handling of the probe into the killing.

Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport last week. South Korean and US officials believe he was assassinated by North Korean agents.