The Assassination That Dragged Malaysians Into A 24-Day Hostage Crisis

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For 24 days, they were held "hostage" by one of the world's most iron-fisted regimes — North Korea

Food supplies were running dangerously low. Anxiety grew by the day. And uncertainty hung heavily over a group of Malaysians who found themselves trapped in a diplomatic crisis triggered by a shocking assassination on their own soil.

It all began on 13 February 2017.

Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and once considered a possible heir to the regime, was murdered at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2).

He was waiting for a flight to Macau when two women — Indonesian national Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong approached him and smeared a substance on his face. 

The substance was later identified as VX nerve agent, an extremely lethal chemical classified as a weapon of mass destruction.

Investigators later revealed that each woman had been carrying only one component of the chemical. 

Individually, the substances were relatively harmless — explaining why they survived. 

But when combined on Jong Nam's skin, the compound became deadly.

After the attack, both women rushed to a washroom to clean their hands.

In the days that followed, the case grew increasingly complex as Malaysian authorities struggled to confirm the victim's identity.

Pyongyang demanded the body be handed over immediately and objected to a post-mortem. 

Malaysia firmly refused, insisting that a crime had been committed and that due process must be followed.

Jong Nam's family members did not come forward to provide DNA samples, and his dental records were unavailable.

Authorities eventually confirmed his identity, but how it was verified remains unclear. 

Various reports cited different sources — some claimed Japan provided fingerprint data, others said China assisted, while another account suggested his son submitted a DNA sample.

Meanwhile, the two women insisted they had been paid to participate in what they believed was a prank video. 

Investigators, however, weren't convinced.

The pair had reportedly rehearsed the stunt at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Suria KLCC prior to the attack.

Authorities, however, believe they were not the mastermind; instead, the operation was allegedly orchestrated by at least seven North Korean agents.

Four of them fled to a neighbouring country on the same day as the murder.

One was later arrested, while three sought refuge inside the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

When Pyongyang refused Malaysia's request to hand them over, Putrajaya responded.

On 7 March 2017, Malaysia barred North Korean diplomats from leaving the embassy compound.

Pyongyang retaliated immediately, prohibiting Malaysians in North Korea from leaving the country, trapping 11 Malaysians.

Malaysia then imposed its own exit ban on more than 300 North Koreans in the country, most of them based in East Malaysia.

Two Malaysians managed to escape as they were registered under the World Food Programme.

Putrajaya made its position clear: until the remaining Malaysians were safely returned, the North Korean suspects and Jong Nam's body would remain in Malaysia.

In fact, when initial negotiations hit a stumbling block, authorities removed Kim Jong Nam's body — already loaded onto an aircraft — and returned it to the morgue.

On 30 March 2017, a Royal Malaysian Air Force Bombardier Global Express aircraft was dispatched to Pyongyang to bring the Malaysians home.

Later that evening, another aircraft — Malaysia Airlines Flight MH360 — departed Kuala Lumpur carrying Jong Nam's body and three suspects wanted over their alleged involvement in the assassination.

The departures were reportedly timed with precision to ensure both aircraft left their respective destinations almost simultaneously.

On 31 March 2017, the nine Malaysians finally arrived home safely, bringing a tense diplomatic standoff to an end.