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Kim Jong-nam killing: 'VX nerve agent' found on his face Kim Jong-nam killing: 'VX nerve agent' found on his face
(about 2 hours later)
Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader, was killed by a highly toxic nerve agent, says Malaysia.Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader, was killed by a highly toxic nerve agent, says Malaysia.
Mr Kim died last week after two women accosted him briefly in a check-in hall at a Kuala Lumpur airport.Mr Kim died last week after two women accosted him briefly in a check-in hall at a Kuala Lumpur airport.
Malaysian toxicology reports indicate he was attacked using VX nerve agent, which is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations.Malaysian toxicology reports indicate he was attacked using VX nerve agent, which is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations.
There is widespread suspicion that North Korea was responsible for the attack, which it fiercely denies.There is widespread suspicion that North Korea was responsible for the attack, which it fiercely denies.
It responded furiously to Malaysia's insistence on conducting a post-mortem examination and has accused Malaysia of having "sinister" purposes.It responded furiously to Malaysia's insistence on conducting a post-mortem examination and has accused Malaysia of having "sinister" purposes.
What does the toxicology report say?What does the toxicology report say?
Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Friday that the presence of the nerve agent had been detected in swabs taken from Mr Kim's eyes and face.Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Friday that the presence of the nerve agent had been detected in swabs taken from Mr Kim's eyes and face.
One of the women Mr Kim interacted with at the airport on 13 February had also fallen ill with vomiting afterwards, he added.One of the women Mr Kim interacted with at the airport on 13 February had also fallen ill with vomiting afterwards, he added.
The authorities say they intend to decontaminate the airport and areas the suspects are known to have visited. The authorities say they intend to decontaminate the airport and areas the suspects are known to have visited. VX is a v-type nerve agent, which means the substance can remain lethal for long period of time.
Mr Khalid said other exhibits were still under analysis and that police were investigating how the banned substance might have entered Malaysia.Mr Khalid said other exhibits were still under analysis and that police were investigating how the banned substance might have entered Malaysia.
"If the amount of the chemical brought in was small, it would be difficult for us to detect," he said."If the amount of the chemical brought in was small, it would be difficult for us to detect," he said.
What is the deadly VX nerve agent?What is the deadly VX nerve agent?
Read more about the highly toxic substanceRead more about the highly toxic substance
How could it have killed Mr Kim?How could it have killed Mr Kim?
Bruce Bennett, a weapons expert at the research institute the Rand Corporation, told the BBC it would have taken only a tiny amount of the substance to kill Mr Kim.Bruce Bennett, a weapons expert at the research institute the Rand Corporation, told the BBC it would have taken only a tiny amount of the substance to kill Mr Kim.
He suggests a small quantity of VX - just a drop - was likely put on cloths used by the attackers to touch his face. A separate spray may have been used as a diversion.He suggests a small quantity of VX - just a drop - was likely put on cloths used by the attackers to touch his face. A separate spray may have been used as a diversion.
Mr Khalid has previously said the fact the woman who accosted Mr Kim immediately went to wash her hands showed she was "very aware" that she had been handling a toxin.Mr Khalid has previously said the fact the woman who accosted Mr Kim immediately went to wash her hands showed she was "very aware" that she had been handling a toxin.
It would have begun affecting his nervous system immediately, causing first shaking and then death within minutes.It would have begun affecting his nervous system immediately, causing first shaking and then death within minutes.
Read more from expert Bruce BennettRead more from expert Bruce Bennett
Who was Kim Jong-nam?Who was Kim Jong-nam?
The well-travelled and multilingual oldest son of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, he was once considered a potential future leader. He has lived abroad for years and was bypassed in favour of his half-brother, Kim Jong-un.The well-travelled and multilingual oldest son of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, he was once considered a potential future leader. He has lived abroad for years and was bypassed in favour of his half-brother, Kim Jong-un.
Kim Jong-nam: North Korea's critic in exileKim Jong-nam: North Korea's critic in exile
How did he die?How did he die?
A woman was seen in CCTV footage approaching Mr Kim and wiping something across his face. He sought medical help at the airport, saying someone had splashed or sprayed him with liquid.A woman was seen in CCTV footage approaching Mr Kim and wiping something across his face. He sought medical help at the airport, saying someone had splashed or sprayed him with liquid.
He had a seizure and died on the way to hospital.He had a seizure and died on the way to hospital.
His body remains in the hospital's mortuary, amid a diplomatic dispute over who should claim it.His body remains in the hospital's mortuary, amid a diplomatic dispute over who should claim it.
Kim Jong-nam: Main players in mysterious killingKim Jong-nam: Main players in mysterious killing
Who did it?Who did it?
Malaysia says it was clearly an attack by North Korean agents. Four people are in custody, including one North Korean and the two women he interacted with at the airport. Seven North Koreans are being sought, including a diplomat.Malaysia says it was clearly an attack by North Korean agents. Four people are in custody, including one North Korean and the two women he interacted with at the airport. Seven North Koreans are being sought, including a diplomat.
Mr Kim had been travelling on a passport under the name Kim Chol. North Korea has yet to confirm that the deceased was actually Kim Jong-nam.Mr Kim had been travelling on a passport under the name Kim Chol. North Korea has yet to confirm that the deceased was actually Kim Jong-nam.
North Korea's history of foreign assassinationsNorth Korea's history of foreign assassinations
On what seemed to be the first reference to the case in the North's state media, Pyongyang said on Thursday only that Malaysia was responsible for the death of one of its citizens.On what seemed to be the first reference to the case in the North's state media, Pyongyang said on Thursday only 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, saying its insistence on securing DNA samples from Mr Kim's family before handing the body over was "absurd".It also accused Malaysia of trying to politicise the return of his body, saying its insistence on securing DNA samples from Mr Kim's family before handing the body over was "absurd".
Does North Korea have VX?
North Korea is one of just six countries not to have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) arms control treaty banning the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons.
According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative project, however, North Korea is thought to have the third largest stockpile of chemical weapons, after the US and Russia.
South Korea's defence ministry estimated in its 2014 Defence White Paper that North Korea has somewhere between 2,500 and 5,000 tonnes in stock.
Defence experts have identified VX as one of the nerve agents among its stockpile.