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South Korea 'plotted to harm Kim' South Korea 'plotted to kill Kim'
(1 day later)
North Korea has accused South Korea of sending an agent to track its reclusive leader Kim Jong-il and carry out a "terrorist mission". North Korea has accused the South of sending an agent to try to assassinate its reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il.
The North's Ministry of State Security said the arrested man was trained by the South's intelligence agency to "do harm to the top leader". It said the man crossed the border earlier this year and had been planning to use poison to kill Mr Kim.
The statement was carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency and read on state TV. The man, who is now under arrest, was described by Pyongyang as a North Korean citizen who had received training in the South.
It comes amid worsening relations between the neighbours. South Korea's main intelligence agency has denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
The statement said: "The [South Korean] organisation sent him speech and acoustic sensing and pursuit devices for tracking the movement of the top leader and even violent poison in the end." The North's claim comes at a time of worsening relations between the two Koreas, as well as continued speculation about the health of Mr Kim.
Although the statement did not mention Mr Kim by name, the South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyeon said the wording had been used before to describe him, the Associated Press reported. 'Terrorist mission'
The statement described the plan as a "terrorist mission". North Korea made the statement via its official news agency, KNCA, late on Thursday.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it was checking the claim, AP reported. It said that a man had recently been arrested for trying to conduct a "terrorist mission" that would "do harm to the top leadership".
The North's statement also said unspecified agents had been arrested recently trying to gather information on its nuclear programme. The man, named as Ri, was under orders from South Korea's intelligence agency, the statement claimed.
It said a plot to gather secrets and lure top officials to defect had been foiled, the AFP news agency reported. "The organisation sent him speech and acoustic sensing and pursuit devices for tracking the movement of the top leader and even violent poison," the statement said.
Border restrictions Although it did not mention Mr Kim as the specific target, the word "leadership" generally refers to him and his top aides.
Assassination plots have been reported in the past, with North Korea making several attempts during the Cold War era to kill the South's leaders. The North's statement also said unspecified foreign agents had been arrested for trying to gather soil, water and leaves to gain information on Pyongyang's nuclear programme.
South Korea's main spy agency has denied any involvement in any of the allegations.
"This has nothing to do with us," an agency official told reporters.
'Dangerous phase'
Mr Kim, who is 66 and reportedly suffering from heart disease and diabetes, has not been seen at key events in recent months.Mr Kim, who is 66 and reportedly suffering from heart disease and diabetes, has not been seen at key events in recent months.
However, the official news agency has been publishing undated photos of him in the past few weeks. Since Mr Lee came to power in Seoul, relations have deterioratedHowever, KCNA has been publishing undated photos of him in the past few weeks.
Mr Kim's reported illness comes as international negotiations continue over North Korea's nuclear programme.Mr Kim's reported illness comes as international negotiations continue over North Korea's nuclear programme.
North Korea said last year it would give up its nuclear programme in return for aid and diplomatic concessions, but progress towards dismantling its Yongbyon nuclear reactor has been patchy.North Korea said last year it would give up its nuclear programme in return for aid and diplomatic concessions, but progress towards dismantling its Yongbyon nuclear reactor has been patchy.
Since the election in South Korea of President Lee Myung-bak nearly a year ago, relations have nosedived. Since the election in South Korea of President Lee Myung-bak nearly a year ago, relations between the two neighbours have nosedived.
The North cited the Mr Lee's government's "anti-North Korean moves" as its reason for speaking out in its Thursday statement, saying relations have reached "an extremely reckless and dangerous phase".
Mr Lee says he is reviewing a raft of cross-border projects agreed in historic summits in 2000 and 2007, and has linked aid to progress on the issue of North Korea's nuclear disarmament.Mr Lee says he is reviewing a raft of cross-border projects agreed in historic summits in 2000 and 2007, and has linked aid to progress on the issue of North Korea's nuclear disarmament.
On 1 December, North Korea began enforcing stricter border controls with South Korea, because of what it called "relentless confrontation" from Seoul. On 1 December, North Korea began enforcing stricter border controls with the South, because of what it called "relentless confrontation" from Seoul.
It is impossible to verify the North's claims, but the two nations are known to actively spy on each other, and there have been assassination attempts by both sides in the past.