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Police arrested North Korean Ri Jong Chol who worked in Malaysia as a chemist

A North Korean chemist suspected of masterminding the murder of Kim Jong-un's brother has claimed he is the victim of a Malaysian conspiracy to tarnish his country.

Kim Jong-nam was killed at Kuala Lumpur International airport by two female assassins who rubbed a deadly nerve agent on his face in the departure lounge on 13 February.

Police arrested Ri Jong Chol who worked in Malaysia trading ingredients needed for soap but he was released due to insufficient evidence. 

Today he accused police of threatening to kill his family unless he confessed to killing Kim.

Ri said that he was not at the airport the day Kim was killed, but that police accused him of being a mastermind and presented him with 'fake evidence'.

He said they showed him a picture of his wife and two children, who were staying with him in Kuala Lumpur, and threatened to kill them.

'These men kept telling me to admit to the crime, and if not, my whole family would be killed, and you too won't be safe. If you accept everything, you can live a good life in Malaysia,' Ri said.

'This is when I realised that it was a trap, they were plotting to tarnish my country's reputation.'

He said he knew nothing of the accusation that his car was used in the murder, adding: 'I didn't go (to the airport), and I had no reason to go. I was just doing my work. 

Shocking pictures show Kim Jong-nam slumped in a chair having been poisoned. He later died on his way to the hospital

'I realised that this is a conspiracy, plot, to try to damage the status and honor of the republic.'

Meanwhile, the Malaysian government has expelled North Korea's ambassador for criticising the investigation into the killing of Kim Jong Nam.

Foreign minister Anifah Aman said in a statement that a notice was sent to the North Korean Embassy on Saturday saying ambassador Kang Chol must leave the country within 48 hours.

He said that earlier in the week, Malaysia demanded North Korea apologises for criticising the investigation into the February 13 killing of the North Korean leader's estranged half brother at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

He said no apology had come and none appears forthcoming, so Malaysia has decided to expel the ambassador. 

'It should be made clear, Malaysia will react strongly against any insults made against it or any attempt to tarnish its reputation,' Anifah said.

Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong (left) leaves court on Wednesday after being charged with the murder of Kim Jong-Nam. She could also be hanged if she is found guilty

Vietnamese suspect Doan Thi Huong (left) leaves court after being charged with the murder of Kim Jong-Nam. She could also be hanged if she is found guilty

The death of Kim, the half brother of Kim Jong Un, has unleashed a diplomatic battle between Malaysia and North Korea.

Authorities said Kim was killed within 20 minutes after two women smeared his face with VX, a banned nerve agent considered a weapon of mass destruction.

Ambassador Kang Chol's expulsion came just days after Malaysia said it would scrap visa-free entry for North Koreans and expressed concern over the use of the nerve agent.

Anifah had said this was an 'indication of the government's concern that Malaysia may have been used for illegal activities'. 

Two women, one Indonesian, one Vietnamese, have been charged with murder in the case, although both reportedly say they were duped into thinking they were playing a harmless prank.

Malaysia is looking for seven other North Korean suspects, four of whom are believed to have left the country on the day of the killing.

North Korea earlier had rejected Malaysia's post mortem finding that VX killed Kim.

Seven other North Koreans are wanted in connection with the killing, including a diplomat and an airline employee who are believed to be in Malaysia 

Ri Tong Il, a former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations, said he probably died of a heart attack because he suffered from heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Malaysia's finding that VX killed Kim boosted speculation that North Korea orchestrated the attack.

Experts say the oily poison was almost certainly produced in a sophisticated state weapons laboratory, and North Korea is widely believed to possess large quantities of chemical weapons, including VX.

North Korea is trying to retrieve Kim's body, but has not acknowledged that the victim is Kim Jong Un's half brother, as Malaysian government officials have confirmed.

Kim Jong Nam reportedly fell out of favour with his father, the late Kim Jong Il, in 2001, when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport to visit Tokyo Disneyland.