Malaysia will return the body of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader at Pyongyang’s request, although there are "procedures to be followed", the deputy prime minister told reporters on Thursday.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed Pyongyang had made the request when questioned by journalists following a meeting with regional business leaders, footage from the event showed.

"We will facilitate the request by any foreign government although there are procedures to be followed. Our policy is that we have to honour our bilateral relations with any foreign country," he said.