South Korea has confirmed the killing of the brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, saying it could be a sign of the brutality of Pyongyang.

Mr Kim appears to have been attacked with a chemical while preparing to board a flight home to Macau from in Kuala Lumpur's airport on Monday (February 13).

Exactly how the attack unfolded is still unclear.

No motive has been confirmed and the attackers have not been identified, reports the BBC.

South Korea's acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn said if North Korea was found to be responsible, it would show its "brutality and inhumane nature".

His death was made public only on Tuesday (February 14). On Wednesday (February 15) morning, his body was released from hospital. A post-mortem examination was expected to be conducted.

A Malaysian police official, Fadzil Ahmat, told Reuters that so far there were no suspects, "but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads".

BDST: 1134 HRS, FEB 15, 2017
LM/SMS