Kim Jong Nam’s relatives have been placed under around-the-clock police protection over fears they might suffer the same deadly fate as the globetrotting playboy.
Jong Nam, the 45-year-old estranged half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, was fatally poisoned by two women at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Airport as he waited for a flight to return to his home in Macau, China, on Monday morning.
Since then, Macau authorities have been closely monitoring the murder investigation and have determined that Jong Nam’s family should receive 24-hour protection, the South China Morning Post reported Friday.
But Macau officials have refused to detail the security measures, saying in a statement, “The authorities continue making their utmost efforts – in a lawful manner – to protect the safety and legitimate rights of all Macau residents, visitors and people staying in Macau.”
Several media outlets have suggested that Jong Un was behind the assassination of his half sibling because of their divided relationship.
Jong Nam was a vocal opponent of his Jong Un’s leadership of North Korea from the very start, causing the bad blood between them.
Jong Nam had reportedly survived several previous attempts on his life purportedly orchestrated by Jong Un.