SEPANG — 2017 · Murder
The Assassination of Kim Jong-nam
Kim Jong-nam, elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was attacked on the morning of 13 February 2017 in Terminal 2 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, as he waited for a flight to Macau, when two women smeared a substance on his face. He died within about 20 minutes on the way to hospital. Malaysian authorities announced that the lethal VX nerve agent had been used. The two foreign women who carried out the attack were arrested, but said they believed they were taking part in a TV prank. In 2019 the murder charges were dropped; one pleaded guilty to a lesser offence, served a sentence and was released. Four North Korean suspects who left the airport after the attack returned home and were never tried. The killing triggered a serious diplomatic crisis between Malaysia and North Korea.
- Date
- 2017
- Place
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2, Malaysia, Sepang, MY
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 2.7432, 101.6862 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 13 February 2017Kim Jong-nam was attacked at the airport and died.
- 24 February 2017Malaysian police said VX nerve agent had been used.
- March 2017A tit-for-tat travel ban crisis broke out between the two countries.
- March-April 2019Murder charges against the two women were dropped.
Sources
- BBC News — Kim Jong-nam killed at Malaysia airport bbc.co.uk ↗
- BBC News — Kim Jong-nam killing: 'VX nerve agent' found on his face bbc.com ↗
- The Guardian — North Korea's use of nerve agent sends a deliberate signal theguardian.com ↗
- BBC News
- The Guardian
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.