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Friday, February 24, 2017

Kim Jong-nam killing: VX nerve agent 'found on his face'

The chemical substance used in the killing of the North Korean leader's half-brother has been identified as a nerve agent, Malaysian police say.
Kim Jong-nam was poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport after two women wiped a toxin on his face.
The "VX nerve agent" found on his face is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations.
Malaysia has not blamed the North Korean state for the death, but says North Koreans were clearly behind it.
Police said swabs were taken from Mr Kim's eye and face by the chemistry department of Malaysia.
His body remains in a hospital mortuary.
Kim Jong-namImage copyrightAP
Image captionNorth Korea has not identified the man who died as Kim Jong-nam, only as a North Korean citizen
Several North Koreans are wanted in connection with his death, including a senior official at the North's embassy in Kuala Lumpur as well as an employee of the state airline, Air Koryo.
Four other North Koreans named earlier in the case are thought to have left Malaysia already, while a fifth North Korean has been detained.
The two women suspected of wiping the substance on Mr Kim's face are in custody. Malaysia said the attack was "planned" and that the women had been well trained.
Mr Kim was once seen as a possible successor to his father, Kim Jong-il, but was bypassed in favour of his younger half brother, Kim Jong-un, and spent many years living abroad.
He had been travelling on a passport under the name Kim Chol.
On what seemed to be the first reference of the case by the North's state media, Pyongyang said on Thursday that Malaysia was responsible for the death of one of its citizens.
It also accused Malaysia of trying to politicise the return of his body.

Who are the suspects?

Ten people have either been named as suspects or are wanted by Malaysian police for questioning in connection to Kim Jong-nam's killing.
Detained
Grainy image shows a woman with brown hair wearing a T-shirt with the letters Image copyrightREX/SHUTTERSTOCK
Image captionA woman seen in CCTV footage is thought to be Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong
  • Doan Thi Huong, 28, Vietnamese, one of two women suspected of wiping toxins on Mr Kim's face. She is thought to be the woman seen in CCTV footage wearing a white top emblazoned with the letters "LOL".
  • Siti Aisyah, 25, Indonesian, the other female suspect. Indonesian authorities say she claims she thought she was taking part in a TV prank.
  • Ri Jong Chol, 47, a North Korean.
  • Muhammad Farid Jalaluddin, the Malaysian boyfriend of Siti Aisyah.
Sought for questioning
Passport photos of Kim Uk II and Hyon Kwang Song, handed out by Malaysian police on 22 February 2017Image copyrightAFP
  • Hyon Kwang Song, 44, second secretary at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Believed to still be in Malaysia.
  • Kim Uk Il, 37, staff member of North Korea's state airline Air Koryo. Believed to still be in Malaysia.
  • Ri Ju U, 30, a North Korean also known as "James". Believed to still be in Malaysia.
  • Ri Ji Hyon, 33, a North Korean. Believed to have fled to Pyongyang.
  • Hong Song Hac, 34, a North Korean. Believed to have fled to Pyongyang.
  • O Jong Gil, 55, a North Korean. Believed to have fled to Pyongyang.
  • Ri Jae Nam, 57, a North Korean. Believed to have fled to Pyongyang.

North Korean family tree showing Kim Jong Nam as the son of Kim Jong-il and Sung-Hae-rim

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