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Malaysia to check airport for toxic chemical
The Latest on Malaysia's investigation into the apparent assassination of the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
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Passengers leave the departure hall at Kuala Lumpur International Airport where North Korean Kim Jong Nam was reportedly assassinated in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. Malaysian police arrested a second woman Thursday in the death of Kim, the half brother of North Korea's leader who was reportedly poisoned this week by two female assassins as he waited for a flight in Malaysia. (AP/Margie Mason)
T
he Latest on Malaysia's investigation into the apparent assassination of the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (all times local):
8:30 p.m.
Malaysian police say they will conduct a sweep of the terminal at Kuala Lumpur's airport where North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un's exiled half brother was killed to check for possible traces of the toxic chemical suspected to have been used in the attack.
A police statement Saturday said the operation will start at 1 a.m. Sunday.
The sweep will involve officers from the police's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear teams, as well as the hazardous materials unit under the fire department and the atomic energy board.
Since the Feb. 13 attack, tens of thousands of passengers have passed through Kuala Lumpur's airport. No areas were cordoned off and protective measures were not taken, though officials announced Friday that the facility would be decontaminated.
7:55 p.m.
Malaysia says it will issue an arrest warrant for a North Korean diplomat if he refuses to cooperate with the investigation into the deadly attack on North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un's exiled half brother.
The investigation has unleashed a serious diplomatic fight between Malaysia and North Korea, a prime suspect in the Feb. 13 killing of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur's airport. On Friday, Malaysian police said the banned chemical weapon VX nerve agent was used to kill Kim.
Malaysia said earlier in the week that Hyon Kwang Song, a second secretary at the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, was wanted for questioning. But authorities at the time acknowledged that he has diplomatic immunity and that they couldn't compel him to appear.
On Saturday, Malaysia's tone changed.
Abdul Samah Mat, the police chief leading the investigation, said authorities would give the diplomat "reasonable" time to come forward. If he doesn't, police will issue a notice compelling him to do so, though diplomats have immunity privileges even in criminal cases.
5 p.m.
Indonesia's deputy ambassador to Malaysia says the Indonesian suspect in the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half brother was paid $90 to help carry out the attack involving VX nerve agent.
But Deputy Ambassador Andriano Erwin repeated Siti Aisyah's previous claim that she was duped into the plot, thinking she was taking part in a prank.
Erwin met Aisyah on Saturday in Malaysia, where the 25-year-old is in custody. Another alleged attacker, a Vietnamese woman, also has been arrested.
According to police, Aisyah rubbed VX nerve agent on the face of Kim Jong Nam amid crowds of travelers at Kuala Lumpur's airport on Feb. 13. Kim was the older half brother of North Korea's ruler. (dan)
