Kuala Lumpur, Feb 18 (IANS): Malaysian police on Saturday dismissed North Korea's allegation that the country was purposely delaying the release of Kim Jong-nam's -- half-brother of Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong-un -- remains.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said that as long as DNA from Kim Jong-nam's family had not been obtained, the investigation could not be completed, The Star daily reported.

North Korea, he stressed, must abide by the provisions of the law set by Malaysia, and should seek advice from its lawyers if it disagreed with the action by the police.

"Their lawyers can advise them. We have rules in Malaysia. While in Malaysia, everyone has to obey and follow our rules and regulations ... that includes North Korea," he told Bernama news agency on Saturday.

Khalid was commenting on North Korean ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol's statement accusing the Southeast Asian nation of purposely rejecting the Pyongyang's claim for the remains of Kim Jong-nam.

Kang Chol made the statement to the media in the compound of the National Institute of Forensic Medicine Hospital in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Selangor Police Chief Abdul Samah Mat said priority to claim the body was accorded to close family members to assist in identification.

However, to date, only the North Korean embassy has come forward to claim the remains.

Kim Jong-nam, 45, was allegedly killed by two women who splashed his face with a chemical at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday. He was about to leave for Macau.