New US Sanctions Against Pyongyang Due to Assassination of North Korean Leader's Brother

The United States has stated that a chemical agent was used in the assassination of the brother of the North Korean leader at Kuala Lumpur airport, and for this reason, Washington is imposing new sanctions against Pyongyang. On March 6, the US State Department announced that according to its investigations, the cause of Kim Jong-nam's death was the VX nerve agent, which is a chemical weapon, and its use is considered a violation of chemical weapons laws in the US. Under US law, the use of chemical and biological weapons is prohibited, and the country can respond in such cases. Heather Nauert, the spokesperson for the US State Department, stated that the use of chemical weapons 'contrary to universal standards, once again demonstrates North Korea's irresponsible nature.' The spokesperson emphasized that the US government 'will not tolerate any [weapons of mass destruction] programs by the North Korean government.' The US investigation concluded two weeks ago, and the new sanctions were imposed following their public release. Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of the North Korean leader, who had fled his homeland years ago and was living abroad, was assassinated on February 15, 2017, at Kuala Lumpur airport in Malaysia while waiting for a flight to Macau. Two weeks later, Malaysian police stated that the VX nerve agent, a highly toxic chemical used in chemical warfare, was employed in the incident. Footage from the moment of the assassination shows two women approaching Kim Jong-nam at Kuala Lumpur airport, one of whom applies a substance to his face, after which both flee. The two women were arrested shortly thereafter, and their trial began in October of this year; Siti Aisyah, an Indonesian citizen, and Đoàn Thị Hương, a Vietnamese citizen, aged 25 and 28, are accused of murdering the North Korean leader's half-brother using 'VX.' However, before their arrest, Malaysian police had published the results of their investigation concerning several suspects, including a senior diplomat working at the North Korean embassy. Relations between North Korea and Malaysia faced severe tensions during the investigation into Kim Jong-nam's murder. North Korea has denied involvement in the assassination of its leader's brother. However, reports from recent months indicate that North Korean diplomatic officials were attempting to persuade Kim Jong-nam to return to his homeland shortly before his assassination. North Korea is currently facing severe sanctions due to its missile and nuclear programs. The new US sanctions are unlikely to have a significant impact on the existing prohibitions and restrictions.