Because the UN Security Council has banned North Korea from possessing -- let alone using -- chemical weapons, we can expect a flurry of activity in New York, and probably new, tougher sanctions on North Korea.

It was stupid too because it strains badly relations with North Korea's few remaining friends.

The airport authorities had to close the busy terminal for decontamination, and they doubtless thank their lucky stars that residual VX has not hurt any passengers since the killing.

China has not yet reacted substantively to the news that VX was used, which almost certainly means that senior leaders are considering what to do. Kim Jong Nam was under Chinese protection, and China hates anything -- like using VX in an airport -- that threatens stability. Beijing's leaders will not be pleased.

Finally, it was stupid because the assassination was botched so badly.

Properly executed, the removal of a high-value target using a sophisticated nerve agent might impress some people -- it would probably have the terrorists of ISIS drooling with envy. But, probably because they were afraid to handle the VX themselves, the hit team, incredibly, entrusted the actual killing to two inexperienced civilians, Malaysian police have said.

Both were promptly arrested and are talking to the Malaysian police.

Then the North Koreans failed to recover Kim Jong Nam's body, which enabled the Malaysians to conduct tests that showed a horrified world that North Korea had used VX.

The day after the attack, Kim Jong Un appeared on North Korean television chairing a big political meeting. Usually smiley on such occasions, he scowled and did not even wave to his comrades. He is not a happy dictator -- and for good reason. North Korea's stock has sunk to a new low.