U.N. committee adopts resolution criticizing chemical weapon use in Kim Jong-nam murder

SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- The First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution that shows concern about the use of a chemical weapon in the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a U.S.-based media report said Saturday.

According to Voice of America (VOA), the U.N. committee, which discusses all topics related to disarmament and international security, adopted resolution L.26, or "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction," in its meeting on Friday.

The resolution supports the decision made by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on March 9 that blamed chemical weapon use in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam. Based on Malaysia government reports, the OPCW announced that the VX nerve agent was used in the fatal incident at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb. 13.

The U.N. resolution doesn't directly mention or target the communist state, but North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador Kim In-ryong during the meeting insisted on deleting the part that mentions the use of VX nerve agent and said that the murder case was framed with the political intention to target his country, according to VOA.

Following Kim's request, the committee voted on deleting the clause in the resolution, but only four countries voted with North Korea, while 116 nations opposed the idea.

Meanwhile, an official with South Korea's foreign ministry said the country endorsed resolution L.26.

kdon@yna.co.kr
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