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The chief of the International Criminal Court said Tuesday the murder case of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half brother in Malaysia cannot be referred to the court immediately as both the countries are not state parties to its founding treaty.
Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi made the remark during a press briefing at the Supreme Court in southern Seoul during her visit to attend the ICC's high-level regional seminar.
For a case to be brought to the ICC, either the country where the crime took place or the country where the alleged perpetrator is from must be a party to the Rome Statute, which the international court is established upon, she noted.
Cases that do not fall under such jurisdiction can only be brought to the ICC if the U.N. Security Council refers them to the court.
Neither North Korea nor Malaysia are a state party to the Rome treaty.
The president said she will discuss with Malaysia its relationship with the ICC and possibilities for the country's ratification of the treaty, emphasizing the need to expand the number of state parties in the Asia-Pacific region.
Kim Jong-nam was killed on Feb. 13 at an airport in Kuala Lumpur by two Asian women, who allegedly smeared the banned chemical weapon VX nerve agent on his face.
Malaysian police said that eight North Koreans are suspected of being involved in the killing. North Korea claimed that Malaysia colluded with South Korea to manipulate the probe. (Yonhap)
