US: N. Korea used VX to kill Kim Jong Un half-brother
March 7, 2018
The US government on Tuesday claimed that the chemical warfare agent VX was used by Pyongyang to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother, Kim Jong Nam (above, left), at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement on Tuesday.
"This public display of contempt for universal norms against chemical weapons use further demonstrates the reckless nature of North Korea and underscores that we cannot afford to tolerate a North Korean WMD [weapons of mass destruction] program of any kind," Nauert said.
The US allegations come a year after Malaysian authorities determined Kim Jong Nam's death was caused by VX, a highly toxic nerve agent that is colorless, odorless and tasteless.
VX exposure can be treated, but an antidote needs to be used quickly to be effective, Malaysia's health minister said Kim Jong Nam died 20 minutes after exposure.
Sanctions largely symbolic
Additional US sanctions on Pyongyang came into effect due to the finding, including restrictions on US foreign assistance, financial aid and arms sales, adding to a list of other measures to which the regime is already subject.
The prohibitions appeared largely symbolic, as they duplicate existing sanctions already imposed by the US on imports to North Korea.
Announcement hours after historic Korea meeting
The State Department's announcement comes at a sensitive time for the Korean peninsula and the US, as a delegation from South Korea — including five presidential envoys — ended a historic visit to Pyongyang during which they agreed to hold an inter-Korean summit.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday welcomed North Korea's offer of denuclearization talks as positive and "sincere."
Trump credited Washington's "very, very strong" sanctions push, as well as "big help" from China, for the diplomatic breakthrough and refused to rule out a historic meeting with Kim.
"We have come a long way at least rhetorically with North Korea," Trump said. "We are going to do something, one way or the other, we are going to do something and not let that situation fester."
North Korea's leader was said to be willing to consider abandoning costly and controversial weapons of mass destruction programs if the US agrees not to attack or overthrow the regime.
Read more: Is North Korea's red carpet a real sign of change or merely a ruse?
Murder trial continues
Kim Jong Nam was killed on February 13, 2017 at the international airport in Kuala Lumpur. Two women, Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong are accused of smearing his face with the banned chemical weapons agent VX. They are the only suspects in custody and are both on trial for his murder in Malaysia. Their lawyers have previously said they thought they were carrying out a prank for a television show. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The Pentagon has said previously that North Korea probably has a long-standing chemical weapons program with capability to produce nerve, blister, blood, and choking agents.
Pyongyang has denied the accusations, saying they are a part of a campaign against its nuclear program.
jbh/se (Reuters, dpa)