Heart attack, not nerve agent, killed Kim

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 carried it out anyway, saying they were following the law. Also, amid growing fallout from the killing, Malaysia announced it is scrapping visa-free entry for North Koreans. 

Malaysian officials say two women smeared VX nerve agent, a banned chemical weapon, on Kim’s face as he waited for a flight at Kuala Lumpur’s airport on February 13.  The only North Korean arrested over the dramatic airport assassination of Kim JongNam is to be deported, Malaysia said on Thursday as it announced the abrupt cancellation of a visa-waiver programme with Pyongyang. 

The moves came the day after two young women appeared in court charged with murdering the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un with a banned nerve agent. Attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali said 47-year-old Ri JongChol would be released and deported on Friday. “He is a free man. His remand expires and there is insufficient evidence to charge him,” Apandi said.