Assassination of Kim Jong-nam

On February 13, 2017, Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was assassinated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. This event marked a significant moment in international relations, particularly between North Korea and Malaysia, and drew global attention due to its dramatic nature and geopolitical implications.

Background

Kim Jong-nam was the eldest son of Kim Jong-il, the former leader of North Korea, and was once considered the heir apparent. However, he fell out of favor in the early 2000s, partly due to a failed attempt to enter Japan with a forged passport, reportedly to visit Tokyo Disneyland. After this incident, he lived in exile, primarily in Macau, and became a vocal critic of the North Korean regime.

The Assassination

• Date and Location: The assassination took place on February 13, 2017, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.
• Method: Kim Jong-nam was attacked by two women who smeared VX nerve agent, a highly toxic chemical weapon, on his face. The attack occurred in the airport’s departure hall as he was preparing to board a flight to Macau.
• Perpetrators: The two women involved, Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Đoàn Thị Hương from Vietnam, claimed they were tricked into believing they were participating in a prank for a television show. They were later arrested and charged with murder.

Aftermath and International Reactions

• Tensions with Malaysia: The assassination led to a diplomatic crisis between North Korea and Malaysia. Malaysia expelled the North Korean ambassador and recalled its own ambassador from Pyongyang. North Korea imposed a temporary ban on Malaysians leaving the country, which was eventually resolved through negotiations.
• Global Condemnation: The use of a chemical weapon in a public place drew widespread condemnation from the international community. The incident highlighted the lengths to which the North Korean regime might go to eliminate perceived threats.
• Legal Proceedings: The trial of the two women garnered significant media attention. In 2019, charges against Siti Aisyah were dropped, and she was released. Đoàn Thị Hương pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of “voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means” and was released in May 2019.

Broader Implications

The assassination of Kim Jong-nam underscored the volatile nature of North Korean politics and the regime’s willingness to use extreme measures against dissidents. It also strained North Korea’s diplomatic relations and highlighted the challenges in addressing the use of chemical weapons. The incident remains a stark reminder of the complex and often dangerous dynamics within the North Korean leadership and its impact on international relations.