Malaysia: Airport free of toxin where N. Korea head’s kin slain
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam said Sunday that autopsy results suggested a nerve agent caused “very serious paralysis” that killed the exiled half brother of North Korea’s leader. On the same day, police completed a sweep of the budget terminal where he was poisoned and declared it safe of any toxin.
The investigation has unleashed a diplomatic fight between Malaysia and North Korea, a prime suspect in the Feb. 13 killing of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur’s airport. Friday’s revelation by Malaysian police that the banned chemical weapon VX nerve agent was used to kill Kim raised the stakes in a case that has broad geopolitical implications.
The killing of Kim took place amid crowds of travelers at Kuala Lumpur’s airport and appeared to be a well-planned hit. Kim died on the way to a hospital, within hours of the attack.
Tens of thousands of passengers have passed through the airport since the apparent assassination was carried out. No areas were cordoned off, and protective measures were not taken. Subramaniam said there have been no reports so far of anyone else being sickened by the toxin.
The sweep started around 2 a.m. Sunday involving officers from the police’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear teams, as well as the fire department’s hazardous materials unit and the government’s atomic energy board. Although VX is not radioactive, police said the radiological team and the atomic energy board were involved as a precaution.