The use of poison to assassinate or eliminate enemies is not a new phenomenon. It has been used for hundreds of years but surprisingly has become an increasingly common form of assassination in the 21st century, particularly in North Korea. North Korea has been linked to several high-profile poisonings over the years, but the weapon of choice has been a toxic nerve agent – VX, a highly potent and odourless chemical weapon.
VX is an extremely toxic substance believed to be up to 10 times more powerful than sarin, another deadly nerve agent. It was first developed in the UK in the 1950s and subsequently produced and stockpiled in the US, the Soviet Union, and Iraq. It consists of a combination of organophosphate compounds that act as a nerve agent by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for the body’s breakdown of acetylcholine. As a result of this, the body’s muscles become increasingly tense and tight, ultimately resulting in paralysis and death.
VX has been used as a weapon of assassination in several high-profile cases, such as the killing of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in 2017. North Korea has denied any involvement in the incident, but evidence gathered from surveillance footage and laboratory analysis of samples taken from the body indicate the presence of VX. It was also used in the attempt to assassinate the North Korean defector, Park Yeon-mi, in 1997. She was poisoned with a drink laced with VX, and was left critically ill for several months before making a full recovery.
The use of VX as a weapon of assassination is a worrying development, as it is a highly potent and persistent toxic chemical that can kill in minutes if inhaled or absorbed directly into the skin. It is also a particularly attractive weapon to those looking to carry out assassinations, as the effects can be difficult to detect and trace. For example, VX can be disguised as a harmless substance and remain undetected until it is inadvertently released. This makes it almost impossible to ascertain who is ultimately responsible for carrying out such assassinations.
The international community has become increasingly concerned about the use of VX, as it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction under the Chemical Weapons Convention. As such, it is banned from being used in warfare and therefore, any state which is found to be using VX in a targeted attack is in violation of international law and could face serious repercussions.
Experts agree that the use of VX as a weapon of assassination is a worrying development, and that it should be a priority for the international community to ensure that North Korea is held accountable for its actions. It is also important to ensure that international laws in place to prohibit the use of chemical weapons are fully enforced, to ensure that such weapons are not used to carry out targeted assassinations.
Monitoring North Korean Constrcts
A key element of addressing the use of VX as an assassination weapon is to monitor North Korean activities. North Korea is known to be stockpiling and manufacturing chemical weapons, including the highly lethal nerve agent, VX. Over the years, the secretive nation has managed to evade international scrutiny and monitoring, allowing it to carry out various illegal activities including the development of chemical weapons. As such, any effective international measures to curb North Korean behaviours must include increased monitoring of the country’s activities.
UN agreements and protocols have been put in place to ensure that North Korea adheres to international law and does not acquire or use weapons of mass destruction. However, North Korea has routinely ignored these agreements and protocols, and it is clear that stronger international measures must be taken. Subsequently, international bodies such as the United Nations and the European Union have put in place measures to monitor and inspect North Korea’s activities, including its chemical weapons manufacturing and testing sites.
Recent reports have suggested that North Korea has been purchasing chemical agents, such as organic phosphorus compounds and VX, from China on the black market. As such, the international community must remain vigilant and ensure that it is taking effective measures to monitor North Korea’s activities and curtail its illegal activities. This is particularly important in relation to the manufacture, stockpiling or use of chemical weapons.
Stronger international Efforts
North Korea’s persistent use of VX as a weapon of assassination highlights the need for stronger international efforts to hold it accountable for its actions. Under international law, the use of chemical weapons is strictly prohibited and those who violate this rule can face severe penalties. Therefore, it is imperative that the international community takes effective steps to ensure that North Korea does not acquire, manufacture or stockpile chemical weapons.
There have been several international efforts to monitor and contain North Korea’s illegal activities, such as the imposition of stringent economic sanctions by the United Nations. Additionally, international bodies have implemented measures to curb the nation’s nuclear weapons development programme. In addition to this, the leadership of countries such as the US, Japan and South Korea have participated in recent peace talks with North Korea. These efforts are a positive step towards curbing North Korea’s dangerous activities.
Such actions demonstrate the international community’s commitment to curbing North Korea’s illegal activities, and also serve as a strong warning to North Korea that violation of international law will not be tolerated. Therefore, it is important for the international community to ensure that North Korea is held accountable for its use of VX as a weapon of assassination.
North Korean Involvement
It is clear that North Korea has been behind a number of high-profile poisonings carried out in recent years, but the ultimate purpose remains unknown. North Korea has denied any involvement in these incidents, and it is difficult to ascertain whether they are part of a larger political strategy or simply a case of revenge. One possibility is that North Korea is attempting to silence those individuals who might have knowledge of the nation’s activities and intentions.
In any case, the use of VX as a weapon of assassination has been a cause of great international concern and the international community must continue to monitor North Korean activities in order to ensure that it abides by international law. It is also essential to ensure that North Korea is held accountable for its actions, as this is the only way to ensure that such heinous acts do not occur in the future.
Global Response
The threat posed by North Korea’s use of VX, and chemical weapons in general, is a global problem and requires a global response. The international community must work together to ensure that North Korea is held accountable for its actions and that the nation abides by international law. Additionally, stronger monitoring and inspection measures must be put in place to ensure that North Korea does not acquire, manufacture or stockpile any chemical weapons.
The global community must also take effective steps to address the root causes of North Korea’s illegal activities, such as poverty and political oppression. These are factors that have contributed to North Korea’s emergence as a rogue nation and, if left unchecked, could potentially lead to further destabilisation of the region.
Ultimately, it is essential that the international community works together to resolve this issue and take effective steps to ensure that North Korea is held accountable for its actions. The use of VX as a weapon of assassination is a heinous act and those responsible must be held to account.
Impact of North Korea’s Actions
The recent spate of highly-publicized poisonings has had a significant impact on the international community. In particular, it has caused many governments around the world to increase their security measures and surveillance of North Korea’s activities. Additionally, it has further heightened tensions between North Korea and its neighbours and fuelled resentment among the international community towards the secretive nation.
The use of chemical weapons by North Korea has also resulted in increased scrutiny from the international community, with calls for the nation to be held accountable for its actions. Additionally, it has raised concerns about the nation’s nuclear and chemical weapons programmes, and has sparked a renewed focus on addressing the root causes of North Korea’s illegal activities.
The use of VX as a weapon of assassination has also reignited debates over the need for strong global measures to prevent the acquisition and use of chemical weapons. In particular, it has highlighted the need for increased monitoring and inspection of North Korean activities, as well as tougher sanctions on illegal activities conducted by the nation.
The international community must remain vigilant in its efforts to hold North Korea accountable for its illegal activities, and it is essential that the nation is not allowed to acquire, manufacture or stockpile chemical weapons of mass destruction.
