North Korea Says US, South Korea ‘Groundlessly Blaming’ It For Kim Jong Nam Murder

In yet another blame game, the isolated country of North Korea accused the United States and South Korea of unnecessarily censuring the country for the death of Kim Jong Nam, the half brother of leader Kim Jong Un.

"From A to Z, this case is the product of reckless moves of the United States and South Korean authorities," Kim In Ryong, North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador, told reporters Monday, adding that it was not yet clear how Kim Jong Nam died.

“The United States and the South Korean authorities are groundlessly blaming the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]," the ambassador said, according to the Associated Press.

Malaysian authorities have concluded that Kim Jong Nam, who died Feb. 13 at the Kuala Lumpur airport, was killed using a banned VX nerve agent. In fact, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak squarely accused North Korea of orchestrating the murder.

"What we are facing now is the result of their action in assassinating their own citizen in Malaysia, on Malaysian soil, using a strictly banned chemical weapon," Najib told state media last Wednesday.

However, ambassador Kim In Ryong claimed that the U.S. is among the few countries that can manufacture the banned nerve agent, and that it had enlisted the help of South Korea. He also alleged that the U.S. and South Korea intend to create conditions that could give them reasons to wage a “nuclear war against DPRK at any cost."

"It is a final aim sought by the United States to store up the international repugnancy towards the DPRK. ... So the U.S. and South Korea were starting the political chicanery to bring down the social system in DPRK," he added.

Relations between Malaysia and North Korea soured following the incident. The diplomatic row worsened as North Korea banned Malaysian citizens from leaving the country. Malaysia followed suit and introduced a similar travel ban for North Koreans. Currently, nine Malaysians — three diplomats and their family members — are stranded in North Korea. Malaysia said Monday that it was working with the reclusive nation to secure the release of its people.

Read: Malaysia Slams North Korea Over Temporary Travel Ban

"The negotiations with the North Koreans are ongoing," Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, according to Reuters. "Our main priority is the safety of the nine Malaysians who are in Pyongyang."

Malaysian police have charged two women — an Indonesian and Vietnamese — with Kim Jong Nam’s murder. Eight North Koreans, believed to be absconding and allegedly hiding in the North Korean embassy in Malaysia, have also been identified by the police for questioning.