Malaysia to charge women with airport murder of Kim Jong Nam

Kim Jong-nam, who had criticized the regime of his family and his half-brother Kim Jong-un, died after the two women allegedly smeared VX nerve agent, a chemical described by the United Nations as a weapon of mass destruction, across his face.

The teams involved include the police forensic team, the fire department and the Atomic Energy Licensing Board, the Malaysian police said in a statement on Saturday.

The country’s police said they thoroughly swept through Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s second terminal, and found the site free of contamination and hazardous material.

But as Doan Thi Huong left a courthouse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after being formally charged with the murder of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s estranged half brother two weeks ago, she had a very different look – red, puffy eyes and a bulletproof vest.

The case was adjourned to April 13 to give prosecutors and defense lawyers for the two women adequate time to prepare their arguments in a trial to be conducted in a higher court.

He said the delegation also wants “development of the friendly relationship” between North Korea and Malaysia.

Her friend, who is unnamed, reportedly said today that Aishah was duped.

But South Korean and USA officials believe Kim Jong Nam, who had criticised his family’s control of the isolated state, was assassinated by agents of the North. He told Japanese police that he wanted to visit Disneyland.

Malaysian authorities have accused North Koreans of arranging to have Aisyah and Huong apply the deadly nerve agent VX on Kim’s face.

Indonesia’s acting ambassador to Malaysia Andreano Erwin said he had met Siti in court and she was “calm”.

North Korea has consistently denied any involvement in Kim Jong Nam’s killing and accused South Korean media of publishing “false reports”. He said that more tests were needed to determine if the two arrested suspects were given antidotes so the nerve agent wouldn’t kill them. “And if he failed to turn up … then we will go to the next step by getting a warrant of arrest from the court”, he told reporters.

Reports said the women thought the liquid was baby oil, but police claimed that Doan headed for the toilet after the attack to wash her hands, with her arms held away, indicating that she knew the fluid was risky. Indonesian diplomats said Aishah told them she was paid around $90 by whoever tricked her into taking part.

US and South Korean officials believe Kim was the victim of an assassination orchestrated by North Korea.

The charges against Aishah were read first in the court and it was followed by the charges against Huong.

No next-of-kin have yet come forward to formally identify the body or provide a DNA sample, but authorities have said relatives would be given more time to do so.

They fled Malaysia on the day of the attack, escaping via Jakarta-Dubai-Vladivostok before arriving back in Pyongyang on Feb 17.