Malaysia condemns use of chemical weapon in Kim killing

TIL Desk/World/KualaLumpur-Malaysia ramped up the pressure on Pyongyang today, issuing a statement condemning the use of a banned toxic chemical weapon in the killing of the half brother of North Korea’s leader.

Malaysia has not directly accused North Korea of being behind the February 13 killing of Kim Jong Nam, but the statement from the Foreign Ministry comes hours after a North Korean envoy rejected a Malaysian autopsy finding that VX nerve agent killed Kim, saying the man probably died of a heart attack because he suffered from heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The statement from Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said it was “greatly concerned” with the use of the toxic chemical and condemned the use of such a chemical weapon under any circumstances. “Its use at a public place could have endangered the general public,” said. The death of Kim, the estranged half brother of North Korea’s ruler, has unleashed a diplomatic battle between Malaysia and North Korea. The autopsy is especially sensitive because North Korea had asked Malaysia not to perform one, but authorities said they had to under the law.