Kim Jong-nam murder: Suspects revisit Malaysia airport

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Media caption,

CCTV footage shows the alleged attack at the airport in February

Two women charged with killing Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader, are revisiting the crime scene in Malaysia.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong were at Kuala Lumpur airport on Tuesday.

The pair are accused of rubbing the highly toxic VX nerve agent on Mr Kim's face as he waited for a flight.

They have pleaded not guilty to murder, saying it was a TV prank and they were tricked by North Korean agents.

Pyongyang has denied any involvement in the 13 February killing, but four men - believed to be North Koreans who fled Malaysia on the day of the murder - have also been charged in the case.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport was packed with journalists awaiting the women on Tuesday morning.

Image source, EPA

The women arrived at the airport soon afterwards, and were seen wearing bulletproof vests.

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Policewomen held the arms of Doan Thu Huong (centre) as they walked into the terminal
Image source, EPA
Image caption,
Journalists at the scene said Siti Aisyah (centre) looked overwhelmed at one point

They were escorted by dozens of armed police officers wearing body armour.

Image source, EPA
Image source, Reuters

Halfway during the visit, Ms Aisyah burst into tears while Ms Huong also appeared unwell, reported AFP news agency.

The women were given wheelchairs and officials pushed them around the terminal for the rest of the visit.

Image source, Reuters

They were accompanied by their lawyers and the judge presiding over the trial. The visit was aimed at giving those involved in the case a better understanding of the events.

The group visited an airport cafe at one point during the visit.

Image source, EPA

They were also taken to the check-in hall where Mr Kim appeared to have been attacked, and the medical centre where he sought assistance.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

If found guilty, the women face the death penalty. Their defence lawyers are likely to argue that the real culprits are North Korean agents who fled Malaysia.

Mr Kim, who was in his mid-40s, was the estranged older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

At the time of his death, he was believed to have been living in self-imposed exile in Macau and was thought to have had some links to China.