Malaysian authorities will not release the body of Kim Jong-nam until his family has provided a DNA sample, according to a news report.

"So far, no family member or next-of-kin has come to identify or claim the body. We need a DNA sample of a family member to match the profile of the dead person.

"North Korea had submitted a request to claim the body, but before we release the body, we have to identify who the body belongs to," Selangor police chief Abdul Samah Mat told AFP.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that the man who was murdered at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) was Jong-nam.

He said the government would facilitate any request by North Korea to claim the body, in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Jong-nam, 45, who is the half- brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, is believed to have been poisoned at the airport.

Police have detained two women and a man in connection with the case. Several others are being sought to facilitate investigations.

Meanwhile, The Star reported that Putrajaya Hospital has handed over four diplomatic passports and valuables belonging to Jong-nam to Sepang police.

Quoting sources, the report said the passports - one red and three blue ones – were used by Jong-nam, who had often travelled under the name of Kim Chol.

The hospital also handed over foreign currencies in various denominations, credit cards and valuables belonging to him.

Jong-nam was brought to Putrajaya Hospital after the incident.