Continuing in question mode concerning the dictator’s half-brother’s death, NewScientist (4 March 2017) indulges in a bit of speculation:
Malaysian authorities have said Kim was killed with VX nerve agent, but chemical weapons experts are less convinced. VX is the most toxic substance known – 10 milligrams of the oily liquid on your skin is lethal. But Kim took some time to show symptoms, which include convulsions and frothing at the mouth. What’s more, the poison was handled by unprotected assailants and didn’t contaminate other people.
But it might just be that VX from North Korea – which is suspected of carrying out the attack – is losing its punch.
Perhaps he had an allergy to some ordinarily harmless substance, and the assassins knew about this.
