KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police investigating the assassination of the half-brother of North Korea's leader reportedly said Thursday they have detained a second woman in connection with the killing. 

A 28-year-old woman, who was carrying a Vietnamese passport, was arrested the previous day after reports said two female assassins sprayed toxins in the victim's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the detention of the second woman to Malaysia's Bernama news agency without providing further details, adding that an official statement will be issued later Thursday,

Selangor state police chief Abdul Samah Mat told AFP earlier that officers were looking for several suspects.

The two women struck on Monday as Kim Jong-Nam was readying to board a flight to Macau where he has spent many years in exile, South Korea's spy chief Lee Byung-Ho has said, pointing the finger of blame at the North.

The first woman is due to appear in court on Thursday.

-AFP