Woman accused of killing Kim Jong-nam was paid $90 to carry out attack

It sound like a joke after one of the women accused of assassinating the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un claimed she was paid a meagre $90 for what she believed was a prank.


According to an Indonesian official who made the disclosure on Saturday, Siti Aisyah of Indonesian origin is one of three people currently being held by police on suspicion of murdering Kim Jong-nam with deadly nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on February 13. 

Siti Aisyah, 25 claimed she was tricked into the plot after she was told she was taking part in a Japanese TV prank show where they would spray water in men’s faces.

Kim died within hours of the attack, in which two women went up behind him and appeared to smear something onto his face.

Siti Aisyah of Indonesia

Other suspects accused of Kim's murder include a Vietnamese woman who also is in custody, a Malaysian man and a North Korean man.

VX is an extremely powerful odourless chemical that a little amount no larger than a few grains of salt is enough to kill when inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin and within a few seconds to a few hours, can cause a range of symptoms, from blurred vision to a headache. Also enough exposure to the chemical can lead to convulsions, paralysis, respiratory failure and death.