The body of Kim Jong-nam, who was murdered in Malaysia last month, is still in Kuala Lumpur, health minister Dr S Subramaniam said today, amid reports the remains of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will soon leave the country.

"We have to check with the forensics department if there was any requirement to bring the body out, but as far as we are concerned there is no change in status quo," Subramaniam told reporters.

He said the next of kin have not come forward to provide assistance on how the body is to be treated.

Kim Jong-nam was murdered on Feb. 13, when police say two women smeared super toxic VX nerve agent on his face at the budget terminal of KL International Airport 2.

Media reports yesterday said the body was moved out of the hospital to a funeral parlour, and later was being prepared to go on a flight to Beijing.

The New Straits Times reported today that the body was expected to go from Beijing to North Korea, without disclosing its source for the information.

- Reuters