OPCW condemns chemical weapons use in fatal incident in Malaysia

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) executive council on Friday expressed grave concern that a chemical weapon was used in a fatal incident on Feb. 13 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The agency called for those responsible for the use of the Schedule 1 nerve agent VX in a killing to be held accountable.

The OPCW council "unequivocally condemned the use of any chemical weapon by anyone under any circumstances as reprehensible and completely contrary to the legal norms and standards of the international community."

The Council asked the OPCW's director general to provide technical assistance upon request from Malaysian authorities for its national investigation.

On March 3, Malaysia confirmed that the VX nerve agent was used in the attack targeting a national from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Feb. 13 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The victim died en route to hospital.

Malaysia said it will cooperate with the OPCW to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The 192-member OPCW executive council oversees the global endeavor to permanently and verifiably eliminate chemical weapons.

Source: Xinhua