There was certainly speculation (however well-informed) about that possibility. I saw one article on that subject that was apparently published in between his death and its announcement.
I saw the video of the attack. Whatever they sprayed in his face worked fast. Kim never had a chance.
That’s got to have the security teams of other prominent people worried.
Here’s CCTV footage of the attack and aftermath. There appears to be two female assailants and the attack lasts for two or three seconds before the women walk away in opposite directions. It doesn’t appear to have been a fast-acting toxin or poison since Kim Jong-nam is able to walk around for some time afterwards, while seeking assistance.
I’ve wondered if Jong-un has recently had a son, or has one in utero. Killing off potential pretenders to the throne and paving the way for his son seems a Kim-ish thing to do. Like Ottoman sultans killing their brothers and brothers’ families.
StG
I’m not a professional - or even amateur - assassin, but it would seem to me that a dazzlingly white top with huge distinctive letters emblazoned on it is not the most clandestine disguise for such an operation. The assassin appears to have still been wearing it leaving the airport.
I’m reminded of the high-profile assassination in 2010 of the Hamas military commander Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh at a hotel in Dubai. I still find it a bit amazing that despite the photos of 26 suspects being released by investigators, no-one, as far I’m aware, has been publicly identified. It would appear, from the photos, that the most effective disguise is black rimmed spectacles.
Walken - The LOL woman was caught, though. And claims she was duped, being told that she was filming a reality prank video. The fact that she was wearing such a high-profile shirt sort of supports her claim, but I doubt the Malaysian government will be very sympathetic.
StG
That would give some credence to an otherwise ludicrous and implausible-sounding story, I suppose.
The video footage does not give a clear view of the actual attack and so its not entirely clear what exactly is going on. It does look somewhat violent, albeit very briefly, so it’s difficult to say whether it would fall within the parameters of what one might expect for a prank.
Pictures of the suspects released. A “security source” said of one of the women:
Also, it’s reported that there was an attempted break-in at the mortuary where the body is being kept.
Kim Jong-nam killing: Malaysia seeks North Korea embassy official
This assassination really doesn’t surprise anyone, does it?
Walken After Midnight:
Well, of course - just ask Clark Kent.
And the latest reports say North Korea refuses to identify the body.
As I suspected (I mentioned it in my previous post, #14), what killed Kim Jong Nam was a nerve agent.
Malaysian authorities have said that “toxicology reports indicate he was attacked using VX nerve agent”.
This seems to clinch it as an act from a state agent. As I understand it, the only entities that have access to that kind of stuff in forms that are reasonably safe to carry and use are governments and militaries (Aum Shinrikyo notwithstanding, of course).
Relevant BBC link:
<<Kim Jong-nam killing: ‘VX nerve agent’ found on his face>>
Perhaps intentionally chosen toxin, to remind the world “Nukes aren’t our only WMDs.”
Just an update on the situation - North Korea and Malaysia have escalated the diplomatic conflict brought upon by Kim Jong Noam’s death. Before, Malaysia allowed NK citizens to enter Malaysia without a visa. Not anymore.
A couple days before that, Malaysia declared persona non grata the NK ambassador to Malaysia, and had him expelled from the country. NK did the same.
And yesterday NK took a rather bizarre step: They forbade all Malaysian citizens present in NK from leaving the country (!!) Malaysia has retaliated in kind.
This is the first time I “personally” see a country taking hostage the whole community of expats and visitors from another country.
Links (from newest to oldest):
So, I hadn’t thought about this for a while until I recently read Jong-nam had 120K on him and had likely recently met with someone connected to US Intelligence when he was killed. Has anyone heard more about this? If he was meeting US Intelligence, what did it have to do with his brother’s regime and was he moving against it (which would make killing him a very logical and not paranoid/crazy thing to for Jong-un).
Updating this thread: