No VX agent found in airport during Kim Jong Nam death investigation

World Today

Kim Jong NamThis May 4, 2001, file photo shows Kim Jong Nam, exiled half brother of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, escorted by Japanese police officers at the airport in Narita, Japan. Kim Jong Nam, the outcast half brother of North Korea’s leader, told medical workers before he died Feb. 13, 2017, that he had been attacked at a Malaysian airport with a chemical spray, according to Malaysian officials. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Forensic, chemical and biological experts have finished sweeping Kuala Lumpur’s airport. They searched for traces of the VX nerve agent.

It’s this chemical that officials said is responsible for Kim Jong Nam’s death.

CGTN’s Rian Maelzer reports.

Follow Rian Maelzer on Twitter @rdamael

Teams donned hazardous material suits combing an airport. The substance used in the attack on Kim Jong Nam is classified as a chemical weapon of mass destruction and police felt they had no alternative.

“As a result of this screening process done, we confirm, number one, there is no hazardous materials found in KLIA2. Number two, KLIA2 is free from any form of contamination of hazardous materials,” Abu Samah Mat, the Selangor state police chief said.

Police also confirmed that a raid on a Kuala Lumpur condominium by hazmat teams was to search for links to the attack and the VX nerve agent.

The second and final police remand orders for the two women believed to have applied the substance to Kim Jong Nam’s face will expire this coming week. By that point, police will have to decide whether to charge them.

Police will check the women for exposure to VX nerve agent.

Indonesian embassy officials said the Indonesian suspect maintains she was paid $90 to take part in what she though was some kind of TV prank video shoot.

“She only said that somebody asked her to do this activity. That she met with some people who looked Japanese or Korean and was given a kind of oil, something like baby oil,” Andreano Erwin, the Indonesian deputy ambassador said.

Police still want the DPRK embassy to assist them in interviewing two of their citizens who were seen with four key suspects at the airport. One of these suspects is the embassy’s second secretary.

If they fail to do so voluntarily, police will issue warrants for their arrest.