THE USE OF A CHEMICAL WEAPON IN THE DEATH OF A DPRK NATIONAL
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia is greatly concerned with the use of a toxic chemical (Nerve Agent VX) listed in Schedule 1 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC) as well as the Chemical Weapons Convention Act 2005 (Malaysia) that lead to the death of a North Korean national on 13 February 2017 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2).
The Ministry strongly condemns the use of such a chemical weapon by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances. Its use at a public place could have endangered the general public.
Malaysia has fully cooperated with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and has complied entirely with all its obligations under the CWC. Malaysia does not produce, stockpile, import, export or use any Schedule 1 toxic chemicals including VX, and has made annual declarations to that effect to the OPCW. Regular verifications by International Inspectors of the OPCW have also been undertaken.
In this respect, the Ministry is in close contact with the OPCW regarding the recent incident and the latter has provided the Malaysian authority with some technical materials that have been requested to assist in its investigation. The OPCW has further indicated its commitment to provide further assistance as required.
The Government of Malaysia will fully cooperate with the OPCW and other international organisations to bring the perpetrators to justice.
PUTRAJAYA
3 March 2017