RantCrush Top 5: February 14, 2017

The half-brother of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has reportedly been assassinated in Malaysia by two women armed with poison needles. According to South Korean media, Kim Jong Nam was at the airport in Kuala Lumpur when the women attacked him before fleeing in a taxi.

The 45-year-old used to be considered Kim Jong Il’s successor, as the oldest son of the former leader and actress Song Hye Rim. But as Kim Jong Il’s father never approved of the relationship, Kim Jong Nam grew up largely hidden and later fell from grace when he tried to go visit Disneyland in Tokyo using a fake Dominican Republic passport.

Malaysian police investigate “sudden death” of Kim Jong Un’s half-brother after he fell ill at Kuala Lumpur airport https://t.co/GlUcHrQ0kt pic.twitter.com/LPki0dp74f

— CNN (@CNN) February 14, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.