Kim Jong-nam killing: 'VX nerve agent' found on his face

[Blue_Tires]

Source: BBC

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.

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.

It responded furiously to Malaysia's insistence on conducting a post-mortem examination and has accused Malaysia of having "sinister" purposes.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39073389

[dalton99a]

1. It appears that those women didn't wear gloves either

[nycbos]

2. Obviously North Korea was behind the attack.

But how did the people in custody survive. Could they have been give an antidote before.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. Might just be their relatively low degree of exposure ?

It went directly onto his face.

[MosheFeingold]

13. Maybe something as simple as lotion

Or Vaseline applied first.

[friendly_iconoclast]

15. VX has a 'binary' form, which can be made by mixing two *relatively* harmless ingredients:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_chemical_weapon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VX_(nerve_agent)

Binary VX is referred to as VX2,[6] and is created by mixing O-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) O?-ethyl methylphosphonite (Agent QL) with elemental sulfur

[dembotoz]

4. modern living thru chemistry

[LiberalLovinLug]

5. "...accused Malaysia of having "sinister" purposes"

Oh so its Malaysia's fault. Got it.

[Old Vet]

6. The story that just keeps giving, My bets on North Korea also. Definitely state sponsored

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. Kind of frightening what the response might be.

I mean, do you just ignore NK using vex gas in an airport.

And with our own Dim Jong Orange and his cabal looking for an excuse.

[Lurks Often]

8. I've had chemical warfare training and this doesn't make sense

If he did indeed die from VX nerve agent, the his attackers, who were not wearing gloves, should also have died and some of the first responders were likely exposed as well and should have shown at least some symptoms

[harun]

9. What if it was suspended in a gel?

I agree couldn't be the gas.

[Lurks Often]

17. Shouldn't change anything

[MicaelS]

11. One of them got sick.

One of the women Mr Kim interacted with at the airport on 13 February had also fallen ill with vomiting afterwards, he added.

[derby378]

12. True, but VX is supposed to be potent

One drop of the stuff, last I heard, contained enough poison to exterminate a hundred people. And vomiting is her only recorded side effect?

I'm thinking either the VX is somewhat degraded, or this woman has some king hell DNA.

[friendly_iconoclast]

14. VX can be a 'binary' nerve agent- two (relatively) harmless ingedients can be mixed to form it.

I'm thinking this woman must have been the second attacker and got some of the newly formed VX on herself

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VX_(nerve_agent)

VX can also be delivered in binary chemical weapons which mix in-flight to form the agent prior to release. Binary VX is referred to as VX2,[6] and is created by mixing O-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) O?-ethyl methylphosphonite (Agent QL) with elemental sulfur

[friendly_iconoclast]

16. Undoubtedly the NK's expected the attackers to die as well- dead asassins tell no tales...

[Lurks Often]

19. Possible, but there are easier ways to poison someone then with VX

Ricin, polonium & puffer fish venom, among others, are all fatal and far, far easier to handle.

[Lurks Often]

18. Maybe, but VX is extremely lethal

5 milligrams applied to the skin is enough to kill an adult, I think the binary answer down thread MIGHT be a possibility.

[Xolodno]

10. Un is paranoid.

His brother was always touted as the guy that would replace him if he pissed off China too much. And Un has been pissing China off....although right now, I think they have their attention on the "orange one".

Nam does have children. Good bet there is going to be more security around them.

The ironic thing about this, if China does decide to depose Un, they could use this assassination as propaganda and another justification for doing so to the North Korean people.