Britannica Sources used in this answer

What happened to Kim Jong-Nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2017?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

On February 13, 2017, Kim Jong-Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, was assassinated at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.21

During the attack, two women approached Kim and spread a cloth impregnated with VX, a potent and lethal nerve agent, over his face. Kim suffered a seizure and died while being transported to the hospital. The two assailants, Doan Thi Huong and Siti Aisya, later claimed they believed they were participating in a television prank and were unaware they were involved in a targeted killing. Analysts widely believe the murder was ordered by the North Korean regime.21